A/N: Oops, meant to have this out yesterday...I would give an excuse, but honestly I just forgot...my bad? Review to let me know if you still love me? :D Oh, and there's a LIME warning on this chapter, though why I'm putting one on a story rated T is beyond me, I guess it's just the polite thing to do.

Disclaimer: Not Mine!

"Bakura-kun, how about you?" The words echoed in his head and he turned doubtfully to Anzu. Yuugi was inviting all of his friends up to a weekend away at his Jii-chan's friend's cottage. He noticed the way Anzu was staring over his shoulder at Yami longingly and his thoughts immediately went to Marik.

Their relationship had been so dynamic lately even though they hadn't been dating that long; he really enjoyed his company and felt a sudden urge to invite him along. Catching Anzu's eye he gestured to the side, pulling her away from the others to talk quietly.

"Do you not want to go, Bakura?" She asked kindly and he shook his head quickly.

"No, of course that's not it, I'll come, it's just that...well, me and Marik haven't been dating all that long I guess, but I still want to invite him," He admitted. Understanding crossed her face along with sympathy, since she could certainly relate to his situation. Along with the fact that she was the only one of his friends who knew Marik as well as he did, he felt that he should ask for her opinion.

He didn't want to turn anyone against him with the whole 'coming out of the closet' thing, but the weekend just wouldn't be the same without Marik there. Keeping everything so secretive at school was really starting to get to him to. He wanted to kiss Marik in public and not care who was watching rather than hiding under a rock like they were doing something illegal.

"I understand if you're nervous about asking him, but if you don't want to I will," she assured him flippantly. "Everyone's curious to meet my 'task master' dance partner anyways," she joked with a small laugh that Ryou couldn't help joining in on.

Task master? Well Marik was pretty strict about dance and he was a master after all. He gave her a grateful smile, feeling himself relax. Even if he didn't have the courage to ask such a personal thing of his love interest, it helped to know he had someone on his side.

"Thank you Anzu-chan! That means a lot to me," he thanked her then, seeing Yuugi waiting to talk to her, moved on his way with a small bow that she returned. Fear plagued him though he tried to keep his steps steady and his smile unfaltering.

He had never been the courageous type, he was more of a cheerleader, encouraging others and pretending it didn't bother him. As for actually going out on a limb and asking Marik...rejection was always painful and it would certainly throw a kink in their relationship.

He knew for someone shy of social gatherings like Marik this was asking a lot, and that he shouldn't take what he felt was imminent rejection personally, but really, who wouldn't?

...

"Are you going to invite him?" Miho hissed to Ryou who eyed Marik across the room nervously. He noticed out of the corner of his eye how Anzu, Miho and Ryou were grouped together which was never a good sign and the fact that they were all looking at either him or Ryou speculatively wasn't really helping.

He assumed it was about the beach trip Anzu had hinted to him about conspicuously before. His grasp on the situation after reading between the lines of her attempt at subtlety was that Ryou was going and wanted to invite him but, being Ryou, was nervous for some reason.

Marik's only question was...why? Their relationship was better than ever now, what was there to worry about?

"You're chickening out aren't you?" Anzu said with a marked sigh, turning back to face Ryou who, if anything, more miserable then he was earlier.

"What if he says no? We really haven't been dating that long and he's kept it so quiet, how do I know" –Anzu pressed a hand to his mouth, cutting him off. He probably could have kept worrying out loud for hours without thinking about the fact that Marik had likely already noticed the way they were watching him.

"Shush, Bakura, you know he'll say yes. Just because you guys haven't actually been dating that long, he liked you for longer. But if you want me to do it, I will," she repeated her offer from earlier, squaring her shoulders boldly.

He hesitated, biting his lip as he looked down, and then nodded slowly. Miho scoffed slightly at his fear, which didn't help the situation at all, but it was clear Anzu felt badly for him.

"Ryou, go ask him yourself," Miho demanded furiously, hands planted on her hips as she motioned him in Marik's direction.

"I-I can't," he stammered, eyes wide with fear as he watched Anzu approaching his boyfriend. Ouch, that was painful.

"You can't be a chicken on this one, stop worrying about if he says no and start worrying about Anzu asking him before you!" The way she said it made it sound like Anzu was asking him on a date or something.

Ryou thought about for about two seconds, just long enough to picture Marik shirtless as he flirted with Anzu in a bikini...the jealousy that boiled inside his stomach had his feet moving before he'd even thought about what he'd say when he got there.

"I just wanted to" –Anzu was saying, and he panicked, knowing he had to say something now or never.

"I have a question!" He blurted and she shut her mouth as relief crossed her face, stepping back to make room for him. He felt all the blood drain to his toes and Marik looked down at him strangely. Somehow the whole idea had seemed much more plausible from across the room.

"Yes, Ryou?" Marik questioned in a mock serious voice, folding his arms impassively though a rueful smile danced around his lips despite his best efforts. Ryou was just too cute when he shook with nerves like he was now. His eyes were so wide against his pale face that they looked like they were about to swallow him up entirely.

"Um...you probably already heard about this...but Yuugi's inviting a bunch of friends up to the beach for the weekend a-and I wondered if maybe..." Ryou trailed off, swallowing hard as that lavender gaze bore into him, one blond eyebrow rising against tan skin.

"If maybe...?" He prompted and Ryou shuddered once, taking a deep breath as Marik seemed to draw all the confidence and effort out of him, milk chocolate eyes slightly lidded. He looked delicious in Marik's opinion and he resisted kissing him right here in the middle of the room.

"Would you want to come...with me...?" He finally managed to squeak out as though his throat was constricting, which it certainly felt like it was. Well the question was out now, there was nothing he could do about it...but oh, he wanted to! He wanted to take it back!

Marik looked like he was actually mulling the question over, and then said, "You want me to come with you?" Ryou flushed at his teasing tone that was obviously meant to poke fun at his nerves before nodding quickly.

It wouldn't be the first time that Marik used it against him, wielding the information masterfully above his head. He had always been much better at flirting then Ryou, though Ryou insisted it was a difference in personality not skill.

After all, he could make Marik beg on his knees if he wanted to with a couple of well strung together comments and looks. He knew once he had Marik's gaze locked in his then his odds of winning their 'game' increased tenfold no matter what the stubborn other male claimed.

"Are you talking like...as a boyfriend or just as a friend?" Marik questioned casually, leaning against the high ballet bar, drumming his fingers in a suspiciously flirtatious manner as he propped up his chin with the other thoughtfully.

Like a panther getting bored, and deciding whether he should wait some more or just pounce, Ryou thought with a shiver.

"B-boyfriend, you know you're more than a friend to me," Ryou replied with more confidence, knowing his own feelings on the matter like the inside of his eyelids.

"Good," Marik suddenly agreed.

"You'll come?" He replied, slightly astonished.

"You really thought I'd turn you down?" Marik questioned, a strange look on his face, and Ryou just shrugged sheepishly.

"A little, yah," he admitted, and the blond scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Come on pretty boy," He said, grabbing his hand to pull him closer and press a kiss to his cheek sweetly before walking towards the change room casually, the less take-charge of the couple bobbing along behind him happily.

As soon as the door closed behind them Marik was all seriousness though, dropping his flirty facade as he turned to face Ryou.

"Why in the world did you think I would turn you down?" He demanded, frowning like he couldn't understand it for the world.

"Well...you're not really social..." Ryou said meekly, pressing his back to the door and sliding down a little under Marik's fiercely suspicious expression while he paced, looking even more like a panther then he had before.

"I know that's not it," he said warningly, pausing only to give Ryou's reaction a double check and his wince confirmed the theory.

Sighing in exasperation he said, "Ryou, how many times do I have to tell you? I like you; you don't have to act like I'm going to suddenly lose interest every time you want to ask me out. I promise I'll tell you if that happens, because it's not going to." His words seemed to strike home inside of Ryou who looked up at him through his lashes.

"Forgive me for being a chicken?" He pleaded in his sweetest voice, and Marik attempted to harden his resolve but felt it crumbling. Ryou's soft cheeks were glowing with the slightest of blushes and his lips had that tiny pucker that made him look like he was heartbroken at the concept of not obtaining forgiveness. His long lashes shielded him from the brunt of it, but he could feel those puppy dog eyes on him as Ryou folded his hands behind his back nervously.

"You are so much more manipulative than people give you credit for," Marik growled, running a hand through his uneven layers that looked like they hadn't been cut in awhile.

"Please?" He said in a wobbly voice like he might start crying, and Marik blanched at the mere thought. He knew Ryou wouldn't actually cry over something so simple, but he had no idea what to do with crying people. He came from a tougher world then that and anything that came out of his mouth just sounded critical.

"Please?" He pleaded again, rocking forward off the wall and taking a step closer to where Marik was frozen so that he could run one finger down his chest seductively this time. Marik's breath hitched quietly when he reached the bottom of his abs.

"I'll try not to be so scared next time...I just really wanted you to come...kiss for peace?" Ryou asked, mood taking a clear switch from his earlier nervousness, trailing all five fingers down his partners chest now.

Marik lowered his eyes, dragging them up and down Ryou's figure slowly before nodding helplessly. The white haired boy who was suddenly in total control moved closer tantalizingly slowly, tempting Marik to try and speed him up as he stared at his soft lips with desire written all over his face.

When he let himself get close enough Marik's hands snaked around his waist tightly, but when he leaned in eagerly for the kiss he stopped him, painting his lips with one teasing finger.

"Ryou..." He moaned warningly, but Ryou just turned his head to the side, stretching up on tip toes to kiss the juncture between his jaw and neck, dragging his tongue in small circles around the area. Marik stiffened at the sensation –then snapped entirely.

Ryou gave a yelp as he hit the metal door, hard, though a hand cushioned the back of his head. The shocked sound was cut off by a pair of greedy lips claiming his own, kissing fiercely. Ryou's eyes widened as Marik's tongue went straight into his mouth, not even having to force his way past his lips which were open in a surprised 'o' shape that provided no resistance for his advances.

When the hand not protecting Ryou's head from the hard metal behind it started to tug on the material of his shirt, un-tucking it so he could caress the bare skin underneath, Ryou came back to himself, pressing his hands to Marik's chest.

Seeing that it didn't have the desired effect as Marik just crowded closer, kissing him into submission, he tried to push him away desperately, feeling his body heat rocket upwards in response to the raging wild fire that had him pinned to the door solidly.

"Marik," he managed before his tongue was once again dominated and just as pinned as the rest of his body except his hands which continued trying to push him away hopelessly. Okay, waste of a word, he needed something shorter and to the point.

"Wrong time, wrong place," he managed as seriously as he could when Marik's tongue was coaxing his into a playful battle and his own hands were moving seemingly off their own accord to grip the cotton fabric of Marik's shirt tightly.

He gave another yelp of surprise when Marik ripped away suddenly and dropped to the ground, dragging Ryou with him. He grinned, lavender eyes bright as he caught Ryou against his chest, laying back on the hard linoleum comfortably as the more reluctant of the two sprawled on top of him.

"Better now?" He asked angelically, and Ryou moaned with frustration.

"You shouldn't have tempted me," Marik replied to the sound, pulling him closer to leave a pattern of kisses on his pale skin. Ryou panted, trying desperately to control his body's reaction. His body said yes, and his heart said yes...his mind said stop before you do something you regret.

He told his mind to shut up and stop ruining the moment.

Tightening his fists he whipped Marik's shirt off over his head, lips cutting off his sound of surprise this time. Marik was quickly back in control, flipping him over so that he lay beneath him on the floor while they began making out furiously for the second time in as many days, Ryou's hands exploring every skin fibre and muscle from his collar down to the waist band of his pants.

"Wait, wait," he moaned and this time Marik listened, pulling back. He had kind of lost it for a minute there, but with his returning humour on the floor he found a semblance of self control. He knew when enough was enough, and they had never gone this far before, let alone in the school change room.

Suddenly the only sound was their breathing which had become deafening in the empty room.

"Um...my bad?" Marik offered sheepishly and Ryou tried to catch his breath while shooting him a small grin and struggling into a sitting position.

"You're bad? I'm pretty sure I started it," he replied teasingly, wrapping his arms around Marik's neck like a little kid as he stood up, lifting them both effortlessly.

"Glory hog," he replied, kissing the smile on Ryou's lips just for the hell of it.

"So you really do want to come right?"

"Ryou..."

"Just checking!"

A/N: So...what did you think? Good? Bad? Too limey? Not limey enough? I really need to know people, I'm basically shooting in the dark here!

Here's a preview for the next chapter:

The look of pain on his face wounded Marik more then he thought it would, though he would never admit it. Was he really so averse to people finding out about them? No, this wasn't about them; this was between him and his friends. But it was so easy to confuse the two...

No! Sadness ahead! Or not...Guess you'll have to wait and see! :D