"I think I should visit Yugi tonight." I'm walking home with Kek when I get Yugi's third text. I sighed, frowning at the message.
"No, you're mine." Kek wrapped an arm around my shoulders like he was trying to stop me from leaving. "Besides, if you go Bakura will bitch all night. We're almost done with out campaign."
"I know, but I guess Atem's gotten worse these last few days. I think Yugi's having his own, private, little break down."
"Oh gods, what's the Pharaoh pouting about now? It's been over four months; he needs to get over himself."
"You're right." I shrugged.
"Just tell Yugi to sleep with him. It worked well with me and Bakura, didn't it?" He gave me a sly chuckle.
"You're joking, but I'm sure Yugi already is. Yugi sleeps with everybody." I rolled my eyes into the back of my head. "Everybody."
"Wait, wait a minute." Kek let go of me and covered his mouth with his hands. "Is that why you had expired condoms under the sink?"
"It was a long time ago," I felt myself blushing. "We make better friends, honestly."
"Then why do you still sound a little heartbroken?" Kek stared at the cracks in the sidewalk as we walked.
At the time I was heartbroken, although I was the one that told Yugi that I wanted to be friends. I remembered hating how easily he agreed to that, like I wasn't worth even a protest. Not that Yugi thought of it like that, he was trying to be supportive of my decisions. I know that because I know him, but still, still, dammit, still he could have done something. Cried. Cursed me and told me to get the fuck out. Kissed me and begged me to stay. Something! Something that showed that it wasn't easy for me to leave.
"It's never easy. When things don't work out." I shook my head.
"Are you going to say that about me and Bakura one day?"
"Kek." I stopped and held his arms. I didn't think before I spoke and it was foolish of me. Most people understand breakups, but I hadn't thought that Kek was so new to everything despite the fact that he wasn't naive to life. "I won't lie to you, sometimes people change and grow apart, or sometimes they work better in one type of relationship (like a friendship) than another (like a romance) even when they have strong feeling for each other- but I swear I can't imagine my life without you. I try to accept the fact that one day Bakura might have to go find his own path, but… I just assumed..."
I didn't mean to get emotional. I was trying to make Kek feel better not break down on the freaking sidewalk, but suddenly there's bright, shining beads tangling in my eyelashes and my cheeks are hotter than before. The thought of either of them not being with me was painful to think about. Physically painful. My fingers throbbed and my throat closed up.
"I thought at least you'd stay. I guess I should have asked? Maybe you'd rather go with Bakura, I never thought-"
"I'll stay." Kek crushed me to his chest. "I don't want Bakura to leave either, but if he does… I'm staying with you."
"I don't want to be alone again. I've been so happy these last four months." I sob into Kek's shirt.
"Me too. It's the first time I've ever got to really be alive."
"Okay." I pull away so I can dry my face and get ahold of myself. "Let's not even think about break-ups. We're going to finish our campaign tonight right?"
Another text right at that moment. Damn, Yugi, shit timing.
"I don't have to answer that." I grab Kek's hand instead.
"Maybe… I could go with you? I know Yugi doesn't like me, but I'll try not to start drama. I mean, you spend a lot of time with them, so maybe - I mean, I'm not trying to watch dog you or anything, I just really wanted to be with you tonight wherever you were."
"I wouldn't mind you coming along. Actually, it'd be a relief to have you there with me."
"I mean, as long as Jonouchi isn't there, right?" Kek chuckled, but I could tell he was nervous at the thought.
"He's working tonight. Don't worry."
"Okay, good, I don't fight for free anymore- I'm a professional now." Kek winked.
"I think everyone would like you if they got to know you. Hell, have you ever heard about Jonouchi's dad? He's awful. I think you'd understand Jonouchi in a way the rest of us wouldn't."
"His… dad was bad, too?"
"I mean, maybe not enough to split his mind in half like what happened to you and Marik, but… Jonouchi used to be in gangs, and his dad drinks all the time, and I've heard some stories... I guess he used to be a violent little punk before he and Yugi became friends."
"Huh… maybe I'll apologize for murdering him and see how he takes it."
"Couldn't hurt to try." I shrug.
"Okay, but if I start hanging out with your friends once in awhile- you have to start hanging out with mine."
"I think that'd be fun. I guess I never did before because I still get teased about being girly, and I didn't want to ruin your manly gym rep."
"They bring their dates sometimes. Besides-" Kek grinned like a fiend. "They give me any slack and I'll teach them some manners when we spare in the ring."
We reached the apartment in a better mood. At least until we were in the living room and Bakura walked in with a bowl of popcorn and Kek decided to say, in a very loud voice.
"I still can't believe you slept with Yugi, though!"
My face flushed, a little from anger, a little from embarrassment, mostly because that wasn't something I really wanted Bakura to hear.
"Wait, slept with who?" Bakura jerked his head up from his popcorn.
"No one!" I snapped, but at the same time Kek shouted, "Yugi!"
"Really?" Bakura wrinkled his face. "Wait, you are talking about the time between when you had the Ring and when we came back, right?"
"Of course." I frowned.
"Oh. Thank. The. Gods. Cuz had you somehow managed to fool around before then when you both had your Items I would be projectile vomiting all over your carpet."
Just like that we were all laughing. I fell onto the sofa holding my stomach.
"Okay, can we stop talking about stupid shit and do important things like finish our RPG?" Bakura asked once we settled down.
"Uh, actually..." I bit my bottom lip.
"The Pharaoh is boo-hoo-hooing about how hard life is and won't get out of bed, so Ryou's going to keep Yugi company for the night."
"Well, then I better put this popcorn in a bag."
"To save it for tomorrow?" I asked.
"Hell no, I'll eat it on the way to Yugi's."
"You want to go too?" I stood back up, frowning. I believed Kek was trying to grow as a person when he asked to go- as much as I believed that Bakura was already plotting something.
Bakura didn't answer at first. He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a paper lunch bag full of popcorn.
"Look," he said, tossing a handful into his mouth and talking with his mouth full. "It's his fucking fault that we're back. We all gotta deal with being alive now, and I'll be damned if I get up every day and put up with this fucking mess called life while he avoids it."
"Bakura, I don't think this is a good idea."
"My dear Ryou, I promise to be on my best behavior." Bakura batted his eyelashes.
"Don't be an asshole." Kek crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm going because I want Yugi to get that we're not two psychopaths tormenting Ryou. It won't do any good if you bust and start trouble."
"See, that's just offensive. Clearly, we're sociopaths and not psychopaths. How you gonna mislabel us like that, Kek?"
"You're missing the point."
"Two options." Bakura continued to eat as he spoke. "You take me with you, or you leave without me and I break into Yugi's place and show up anyway. Popcorn?"
"I guess I better text Yugi and at least warn him you're both coming with me." I didn't know what else to do. I knew Bakura meant it when he said he was going regardless, so I took a handful and started eating.