Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.
"Ow! Ryou, watch it!" Yugi yelped and clutched his arm. Ryou bit his lower lip and gave Yugi a sheepish smile as he re-positioned the needle he was using to sew the arm onto Yugi's dress. Yugi loved the costume, it was quite stunning really, but he didn't like having to be a human pincushion. Malik entered the room then, carrying a bundle of very pretty fabric. He set it down next to Ryou and sat in a chair beside them.
"The dress is coming along nicely Ryou." Malik said, his gaze traveling over the dress.
"Thanks Malik. Do you like it Yugi?" Ryou asked, re-threading a needle and beginning to sew the arm the rest of the way on. Yugi gave Ryou a smile.
"I really do like it Ryou. It's beautiful." Yugi replied. Ryou grinned.
"I'm glad." Ryou said. Malik lounged in the chair for a little while, reading a book. Ryou sewed the other arm on the costume and stood back, looking at what he'd done so far. Yugi stared down at it, twirling a little bit and watching the dress billow out at he twirled.
"Did I make it short enough Yugi? I don't want you to trip while you're onstage." Ryou asked. Yugi stepped down off the stool he had been standing on and gave one more twirl, and then he walked to Ryou and back, testing the length. Yugi began to giggle and twirled one more time, enjoying the fabric flowing around his legs.
"I think it works!" Yugi said excitedly. Ryou smiled.
"Great!" Ryou said happily. Malik put the book down and rose to his feet. He held his hand out to Yugi and smiled cheerfully.
"May I have this dance my lady?" Malik teased. Yugi giggled again and placed his hand in Malik's outstretched one.
"Why yes you may kind Sir." Yugi said, his voice taking on a regal tone. Malik placed an arm around Yugi's waist and began to waltz the boy around the room. Ryou laughed and clapped his hands while Yugi giggled and tried to follow Malik's lead.
"My lady, you are a wonderful dancer!" Malik continued his game as he spun Yugi faster and faster around the living room, the waltz becoming a wild jig. Ryou's expression grew a little worried as he watched the dance.
"Careful Malik. I don't want to have to patch the dress. I just made it." Ryou said. Malik slowed a little, but he still kept in time with the dance. After a moment, Yugi's hands tightened a little bit on Malik's arms as he tried to get the older boy to slow down more.
"I'm getting dizzy Malik. Can we stop for a moment?" Yugi asked. Malik stopped and allowed Yugi to flop down in a chair. Ryou sat down next to him.
"I have a few more things to add before it's completely done." Ryou said.
"Yugi! Ryou! Malik! We're home!" Yami's voice suddenly sounded in the stairwell leading down to the shop. Ryou was on his feet in a flash, yanking Yugi up off the couch and beginning to strip him while the boy protested feebly.
"Malik! Hurry and get the costume bag!" Ryou cried. "We can't let Yami see it just yet!" Malik grabbed it as Ryou finished getting the clothing off. Ryou hurried and stuffed the costume in the bag. Yugi flopped back onto the couch. Ryou hurried away to put the dress in his closet. Yami entered the living room then, Marik and Bakura on his heels.
"Good afternoon love." Yami said, strolling to the couch and pulling Yugi up into his arms. Yugi giggled as Yami hugged him and then the elder vampire leaned down, giving his little one a chaste kiss. Marik plopped into the armchair and grabbed Malik by the arm, pulling him down into his lap. Malik sighed, but didn't complain, leaning back into him. Bakura glanced around, not seeing Ryou.
"Where is Ryou?" Bakura asked.
"He's putting my costume away." Yugi replied. Yami stared down at him.
"When do I get to see that costume of yours?" Yami asked, raising a brow at him. Yugi smacked him on the arm and frowned at him.
"We already told you that you can't see my costume till opening night Yami." Yugi said. Yami sighed and rolled his eyes, clutching Yugi closer.
"But I'm curious." Yami protested.
"Well that's just too bad. I'm also not letting Yugi see yours until opening night Yami, so fair is fair." Ryou said with a smile as he came back down the stairs. Bakura looked happier suddenly and rushed to Ryou, giving the white haired boy a hug. Ryou returned the hug with a happy laugh.
"But I wanna see it…" Yami whined. Yugi giggled.
"Sorry Yami, but you have to wait." Yugi told him, reaching up and tapping him on the nose. Yami grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss to the palm. Yugi blushed.
"Fine. If I must wait, I suppose I shall." Yami told him.
"So what's on the agenda for today?" Malik asked.
"Hm… I dunno. What would you boys like to do today?" Bakura asked.
"A trip to the park sounds like fun." Ryou suggested. Yugi brightened.
"That definitely sounds like fun!" Yugi chirped. Malik nodded his agreement.
"Well, I guess we're going to the park then huh?" Marik chuckled from his spot on the chair. Yami nodded his agreement.
"Let's go." He said, grabbing the van keys off the counter where he had laid them when he came in the apartment. He and the boys headed out of the apartment then. They got into the van and headed off to the park.
Yugi ran to one of the swings when they arrived and sat there, lightly swinging his legs back and forth. Ryou and Malik joined him on the swings while the three elder vampires sat down at a picnic table to watch their pets play.
"It really is a lovely day today." Ryou remarked, sighing happily as the warm breeze ruffled his snowy white hair.
"Yeah, it sure is." Malik agreed. Yugi swung on his swing a little harder.
"Wanna see who can swing the highest?" Yugi asked with a happy laugh. Ryou and Malik nodded, taking him up on his challenge. As they swung higher, enjoying the day and the breeze, their men watched them with easy smiles.
"They sure look like they're having fun." Marik commented.
"They always look like they're having fun." Bakura said.
"Come on. Let's go play too." Yami suggested with a mischievous grin. They rose from the benches and walked over to the boys. Ryou jumped off with a happy yell and Bakura darted forward to catch him. Ryou giggled as he was swung around.
"Nice catch." Ryou said. Bakura smiled and nuzzled him. Malik and Yugi stopped their swings and got off. Yugi grabbed Yami's hand and dragged him over to merry-go-round. Yami stared at it, not really knowing what to do with it as Yugi hopped onto it. Malik and Ryou came over and joined him.
"Yami, could you spin this? Not too hard though." Yugi asked. Yami nodded. He grabbed one of the metal bars and gave it a push. The boys swung around on it, giggling.
"Hey, spin it a little faster!" Malik called, gripping his own metal bar harder. Yami smiled and did as he was asked. Yugi and Ryou let out happy yelps as they spun quicker.
"This is so much fun!" Ryou yelled. Yugi simply laughed. After a bit, Yugi began to get dizzy and he waved his hand at Yami.
"Stop it for a minute! I want to get off!" Yugi called. Yami stopped it and Yugi went to get off, but he stumbled and tripped. Yami caught him, gently setting him back down on the ground. Yugi grinned sheepishly and blushed.
"Are you okay?" Yami asked. Yugi nodded.
"I'm okay. I'm just a little dizzy." Yugi told him. Ryou and Malik laughed.
"A bit clumsy today, eh Yugi?" Malik teased. Yugi stuck his tongue out at him.
"Yugi, come on!" Ryou called, running over and yanking the boy away from Yami. "Let's go slide now! They have a big swirly one over there!" Yami began to chuckle and he shook his head.
"Are you sure you're seventeen Ryou?" Yami joked. Ryou laughed.
"Hey, you can still be a kid at any age. You just have to know how to have fun!" Ryou replied. Malik hopped off the merry-go-round and ran over to join the boys at the slide. Yami chuckled to himself and walked back over to join the other two vampires.
"Silly boys." Marik commented, shaking his head with a smile.
"I'm just glad they're having fun." Bakura replied. Yami nodded.
"Kura! Kura, come catch me!" Ryou called, waving from the top of the slide. Bakura laughed and walked over to the slide. Ryou slid down the slide at a fast pace and Bakura caught him, swinging him around and setting him back down on the ground. Ryou smiled and ran back to the ladder, climbing up. Malik came down next, hitting the ground on his feet and giggling as he did a ninja roll, landing back on his feet afterwards.
"Why, you do have a silly side Malik." Bakura said. Malik stuck his tongue out at him.
"I do. What's your point?" Malik teased back.
"Ack! Ryou!" Yugi came down the slide upside down. Bakura caught him so he wouldn't fall and set him right side up. Ryou grinned from the top of the slide. Yami watched all this, a small smile on his lips. His placed his hands in his pockets and turned, going to walk back to the bench, when something in the distance caught his eye. The smile faded from his face as he stared. He removed his hands from his pockets and turned, his eyes coming to rest on his lover. Yami watched Yugi play, a expressionless look on his face all of a sudden as Yugi laughed and smiled. Yami came over and took Yugi's hand. Yugi stared up at him, startled, noting his sudden mood change.
"Come with me." Yami whispered to him. Yugi turned and followed him as Marik came over and played with Bakura and the remaining boys some more. Yami led Yugi to a small area in the park, surrounded by cherry blossom trees. Yugi began to feel uneasy. This was the place he had first met Yami. Yami placed his hands in his pockets, staring at the trees around them.
"Yami…" Yugi said softly, hooking his arms around Yami's arm.
"You remember this place, don't you?" Yami asked.
"Yes. Why are we here?" Yugi asked.
"You don't hate me for what I've done, do you? You look so happy all of the time now… That I just want to be sure you actually are happy and that you're not faking it." Yami told him, his eyes still focused on something else in the distance. Yugi blinked.
"No, I'm not faking it. I'm very happy with you. Yami, that's such a silly thought. I don't hate you. I love you. I thought I expressed this to you already." Yugi told him. Yami finally looked down at him, his eyes showing some emotion that Yugi couldn't define.
"I just don't want to give you to think badly of me." Yami told him, his thoughts going back to Solomon, knowing that soon enough he would have to give Yugi a horrible truth. Yugi blinked again, but then he smiled brightly. Yami's heart tore as he watched that smile. He had put that lovely smile on Yugi's face and he would be the one responsible for making it disappear.
"You're such a softie Yami. You really think about things too much." Yugi teased, leaning into him and giving him a hug. "Do you have a knife handy?" Yami stared at him as his eyes widened.
"What do you want a knife for?" Yami asked. Yugi giggled.
"You'll see if you have one." Yugi said. Yami pulled a Swiss army knife out of his pocket and gave it to Yugi. Yugi strode over to one of the trees and flipped out the knife, starting to hack at the tree. Yami got curious, walking over and watching him, trying to see what he was doing. When Yugi was done, Yami's eyes widened as he saw what Yugi had done to the tree.
"Yugi…" Yami said softly, staring down at the cute little heart that said Yugi loves Yami in it. Yugi gave him back his knife.
"I don't think badly of you at all Yami. Sure, you were scary enough at first, but you love me and you've proven it. And I love you too. And now this place will be a happy memory for the both of us." Yugi told him, leaning against him as he wrapped his arms around him. Yami wrapped his arms around Yugi as well, leaning down and giving him a grateful kiss.
"Thank you Little One." Yami murmured, brushing his lips across Yugi' hoped Yugi wouldn't forget that he loved him once he'd gotten up the courage to tell him the truth. Yugi took his hand and began to lead him away.
"Come on. Let's go home now, okay?" Yugi asked. Yami nodded and followed Yugi back to the others.
"Could you please hold still? I can't sew if you wiggle." Ryou was saying as he tried to put the costume of the person playing the nurse together. Yugi sat on a chair out in the audience portion of the stage, saying his lines to himself.
"Getting any of your lines memorized?" Malik asked, plopping down next to him.
"Somewhat. There's just so many. How did Yami get them memorized so quickly?" Yugi replied, shutting the book and turning to look at his friend.
"He has a photographic memory. Marik has something like that too. I think having a memory that good is a vampire thing." Malik said, pulling a bag of candy out of his pocket and beginning to eat it. Yugi smiled and held his hand out.
"My candy…" Malik said. Yugi stuck his lower lip out.
"Please?" Yugi asked. Malik smiled and handed him a handful of the M&Ms he was eating. Yugi popped some in his mouth and sighed happily.
"Mm… Chocolate…" Yugi said. Malik grinned.
"You are a serious chocolate fiend." Malik said. Yugi nodded.
"I know. I can't help it; chocolate is soooo good…" Yugi said, eating a couple more.
"Yugi sweetie! We need you up here to practice the party scene!" Mrs. Yakima called. Yugi finished his M&Ms and rose from his chair, grabbing his script. Malik waved to him, grinning widely.
"Good luck my Lady!" Malik called. Yugi blushed and turned, sticking his tongue out at Malik. Yami reached down and grabbed Yugi around the waist, hauling him onto the stage. Yugi yelped in surprise as he was set down on the stage. Yami chuckled.
"Come on Hikari, let's practice." Yami said. Yugi blushed. They got into place and the practice resumed. After practice, Yugi hurried down the hall to his locker to grab the books he would need for his homework. Ryou and the others would wait for him at the van. Yugi hurried to stuff the books inside his backpack and zipped it up.
"Hey Yuge." Yugi looked up to see Joey staring down at him. Yugi smiled.
"Hi Joey. How have you been?" Yugi asked, slipping the backpack onto his shoulder.
"Pretty good. How have you been? I've seen ya at drama practice." Joey said. Yugi smiled widely and nodded.
"Drama practice has been great lately. I have one of the lead parts in the play." Yugi said.
"Yeah I heard. I haven't been able ta see much of ya Yuge. You've been hangin wit dat Yami fella a whole lot." Joey said. Yugi blinked, looking surprised.
"I'm sorry Joey." Yugi said.
"I want ta hang out again. Would you wanna come ta da arcade wit me? Just da two of us?" Joey suggested. Yugi nodded.
"I would like that. It's been a long time. How does tomorrow after school sound? I don't have any plans and there's no practice." Yugi said.
"Dat sounds fine. See you den Yuge." Joey turned and walked down the hallway. Yugi turned and walked the opposite way, thinking hard. How would he get Yami to agree to this? Yami would want to come, but it had been such a long time since he had just hung out with his old friends. He walked outside and saw everyone waiting by the van for him. He decided that he would talk to Yami about it that night.
"Hey Yugi! About time!" Ryou called. Yugi waved to him.
"Sorry I took so long!" Yugi said, joining them at the van. He climbed into the front seat of the van. Yami turned and gave him a smile.
"What took you so long?" Yami asked him as he pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the street. Yugi smiled nervously.
"Uh… Joey stopped to talk to me." Yugi admitted.
"Wheeler? Your one friend?" Yami asked. Yugi nodded.
"Yes, he's the one." Yugi replied.
"And what did he want?" Yami asked him. Yugi nervously wrung his hands together.
"I want to talk to you about that when we get home." Yugi told him. Yami glanced at him and noticed the nervous look on his face. What had Joey talked to him about that made him so nervous? Yami pulled up beside the shop and everyone got out of the van, going into the house. Yami followed Yugi up to their room. Yugi set his backpack on the floor.
"Now, what's this all about Yugi?" Yami asked, flopping down on the bed. Yugi sat down next to him.
"Joey asked me to go to the arcade with him tomorrow." Yugi replied, looking him straight in the eye. Yami was surprised for a moment, but then he crossed his arms, gazing down at Yugi.
"Just the two of you, right?" Yami asked. Yugi flinched at his tone.
"Yes. It's been a long time since we've hung out or done anything together. I really want to go." Yugi answered. Yami sighed.
"And I suppose nothing I say is going to deter you from going?" Yami said.
"I do really want to go." Yugi told him, looking away. Yami sighed again.
"I guess that you should go then." Yugi looked at him, startled when he said that.
"What, you mean it!" Yugi asked. Yami chuckled.
"Of course I mean it. Why, what did you think I would say?" Yami asked, uncrossing his arms and gazing down at Yugi as a smirk made its way across his lips. Yugi looked away shyly, wringing his hands together.
"I… I thought you would say no." Yugi told him. Yami smiled at him.
"Well… I know I can trust you, so there's no reason for me to say no and make my little love upset…" Yami said, leaning towards Yugi. Yugi gulped and leaned back a little.
"T-Thank you for trusting me." Yugi told him. Yami smiled wickedly.
"You could thank me properly, you know…" Yami said suggestively. Yugi's eyes widened as he was pushed back onto the bed on his back. Yami leaned down and gave Yugi a gentle kiss, cupping his cheek with one hand. Yugi moaned softly and arched under him when his other hand trailed down Yugi's side, tickling it. Yugi giggled and squirmed a little at the tickle.
"Yami… That tickles!" Yugi giggled again.
"I love you my little one." Yami murmured. Yugi gazed up at him, smiling.
"I love you too." Yugi told him, reaching up to play with a strand of his blonde bangs. Yami sighed blissfully and hugged the tiny body close to him. Yugi stared at the ceiling, his thoughts happy as he thought about how Yami had admitted his trust. They laid there for a little while together, cuddling.
POOF!
"Aw, darnit Malik!" Ryou exclaimed. Malik grinned at him sheepishly, his face now covered in flour. The floor all around him was littered with flour as well.
"Sorry Ryou." Malik giggled.
"We're supposed to be making food, not a mess!" Ryou told him, placing his hands on his hips. Malik just laughed.
"Oh, lighten up! It was an accident!" Malik told him, picking up some of the spilt flour and throwing it into Ryou's face. Ryou let out a startled cry as the flour covered his face and hair. Malik burst into laughter. Ryou picked up some of the flour and threw it at Malik. Malik shrieked and they raced around the kitchen, throwing the spilt flour at each other. Ryou slipped on some of the flour, falling on his butt.
"Ow…!" Ryou cried, rubbing his stinging rear end. Malik peered at him from behind the counter, his lavender eyes wide.
"Ryou, are you okay?" Malik asked. Ryou grinned.
"I'm fine. Help me up, would you?" Ryou asked, holding out his hand. Malik took it and Ryou gave a jerk, yanking Malik down on the floor with him. The young Egyptian yelped as he sprawled across Ryou's lap.
"Ryou, you little fiend!" Malik said. Ryou laughed.
"Gotcha!" Ryou said. They both began to laugh again.
"Oh my gosh! What happened to my kitchen!" Both boys glanced up, seeing Yugi and Yami standing in the kitchen.
"Uh… Sorry Yugi. We were trying to cook dinner and well…" Ryou began.
"We made a mess." Malik said with a silly grin. Yugi sighed and shook his head, a small smile on his lips.
"I hope you don't expect Yugi to clean this mess up." Yami told them, a glare on his face and his arms crossed over his chest.
"No! No, no!" Ryou exclaimed.
"We would never! We're going to clean it ourselves!" Malik cried. Yugi smacked Yami on the arm, giving the elder a glare.
"There's no reason to frighten them like that! They were only having fun!" Yugi said. Yami rolled his eyes.
"Heh, heh…" Malik laughed.
"Would you guys like help with dinner?" Yugi asked. Ryou leapt to his feet and Malik jumped up as well.
"No, no, no!" Ryou told him.
"We're taking over dinner for once so you don't have to." Malik added.
"Please, go do on and do something else! Um… Yami, take him out or something!" Ryou said, shoving Yugi into Yami. Yami chuckled and picked Yugi up, ignoring the squeal of surprise from the boy.
"Alright, I'll distract him for you." Yami said, turning and striding out of the kitchen. Ryou turned to Malik and sighed.
"Let's get this done already. No more messing around." Ryou said. Malik nodded.
"Yeah!" He cheered, pumping his fist in the air. He and Ryou got busy, hustling around the kitchen and fixing up what they could make out of the cookbook. When they got what they had made in the oven, they hustled around the kitchen, trying to clean it up. By the time they got it clean, the casserole in the oven was done, so Ryou took it out.
"I hope that's edible." Malik commented.
"Well, we went by the book…" Ryou said, staring at it.
"Maybe we should taste it first. What if Yugi hates it?" Malik asked.
"Hey guys. Are you done? It smells good." Yugi said, coming into the kitchen. Malik shook his head and sighed. Ryou fought back a giggle. Yugi blinked. "What?"
"I see how Yami kept you distracted. Nice hickey." Ryou laughed. Yugi blushed.
"Do you want to try it?" Malik asked, motioning to the casserole.
"Sure! It really does smell good." Yugi said with a smile. Ryou got a fork and took some out of the dish, holding it up for Yugi. Yugi took the bite and smiled once he swallowed.
"What do you think?" Ryou asked.
"It's delicious! You guys did a good job!" Yugi said.
"Yay!" Ryou and Malik cheered.
"Your cooking is getting so good!" Yugi said happily.
"Thanks!" Ryou said, hugging his friend. Malik joined in the hug too.
"Alright! Let's eat!" Malik said, pumping his fist again. Yugi smiled as his friends got out the plates and silverware for the three of them. He walked over to join them for the evening meal.