General note: Mou Hitori no Boku is the way Yuugi refers to his Yami. It means 'Another me'
---
Yuugi smiled brightly as he met Bakura to walk to school. "Ohayou, Bakura-kun!"[Moring!] he called. "Kyou wa ii tenki deshou ne?"[The weather's nice today, isn't it?]
The pale haired boy gave a soft smile. "Ee," he agreed, looking almost saddened by Yuugi's near glowing appearance. He looked down, hands nervously clenched around the handle of his school bag. "Ne, Yuugi-kun...?" he asked softly.
"Hm," Yuugi asked, looking away from the sky and at his friend. Seeing Bakura's upset expression, he frowned. "Bakura-kun... what's wrong?"
"It's Kaiba-kun, isn't it?" Bakura asked, looking up, eyes full of mixed emotions.
Yuugi's eyes widened in surprise. "What's Kaiba-kun?" he asked nervously.
Bakura looked down at his bag again. "I saw how you kept looking at him yesterday..." His voice was soft and sad.
Yuugi hung his head. "Was I really that obvious?"
There was a small silence. "Yuugi-kun...? Do you love him...?" Bakura finally asked, looking up at his friend.
"What's love got to do with it?" Yuugi asked, confused.
The pale haired boy blinked, almost startled by the response. "The-- the way you were looking at Kaiba-kun, I thought...." he trailed off, confused.
Yuugi smiled again and clasped his hands behind his head, looking up at the sky. "We've been lovers for a few days now. He's really good," he said with a heavy lidded look of satisfaction. He looked back at Bakura, expression clearing. "But that doesn't have anything to do with love...." he added.
Bakura blinked a few times at his smaller friend, then blushed slightly. "Oh..." he said faintly, looking down again.
"So was that what you wanted to know?"
The pale haired boy nodded, still looking at his bag.
"Is something wrong?" Yuugi asked after a pause.
Bakura startled slightly. "Iie,"[No] he said quickly, shaking his head. He gave a small smile that was almost nervous.
Yuugi continued to look concerned. "He doesn't hurt me, if that's what you're worried about," he assured. "Jounouchi-kun yelled at me because it's Kaiba-kun and he's my rival, but he doesn't hurt me."
Bakura shook his head slightly. "I don't think Mou Hitori no Yuugi would stand for it if Kaiba-kun did," he smiled slightly.
"Un," Yuugi agreed, nodding slowly. "Mou hitori no boku is very protective of me. Ne, Bakura-kun, are you sure you're all right?"
The pale haired boy fidgeted slightly with his bag. "I...." he hesitated again before looking over at his shorter friend. "When I saw how you were looking at Kaiba-kun I..." he hesitated again. "I felt jealous..." he admitted, looking back down again, cheeks reddening slightly.
"Jealous?" Yuugi asked. "But why?"
Bakura's blush deepened. "Because I though you loved him..."
Yuugi laughed a bit self consciously. "I guess I was making a bit of an idiot of myself, wasn't I?" he said with a crooked smile. "He gave me this," he said, tracing the line of the collar he wore.
Bakura looked at the collar, eyes conflicted. "Yuugi-kun, I--"
"But it's just so nice to know he thinks enough of me to get it, you know?" the smaller boy continued. "And to know that I don't have to worry about someone trying to hurt me, or worry about histories and if I'm likely to get sick, or... well, or any of that stuff really." He smiled, then saw Bakura's face and grew serious again. "What's wrong, Bakura-kun? You know you can tell me."
The boy's eyes looked almost pained as he gave a small sad smile. "You've always been the best friend I've ever had, Yuugi-kun," he said softly. "The only one I could ever tell anything to, no matter now silly or insane it sounded." He placed a hand on his chest where the Millennium Ring would have been resting. "Which is why I was almost happy when I saw you yesterday, because it meant I had a chance, even if I had to fight Kaiba-kun for it..."
Yuugi's brows drew down. "You had a...?" His eyes flew wide. "Bakura-kun, masaka! You....?" [No way!]
The pale haired boy looked down, face slightly red. He gave a small nod.
"You never said anything," Yuugi said unhappily.
"I was afraid to," Bakura admitted, voice slightly ashamed. "It wasn't until I thought I'd lost my chance that I even could think of telling you...."
"But why do you think you've lost your chance?"
Bakura gave a small smile. "I knew I'd never be able to win against Kaiba-kun if you loved him..."
"But I don't," Yuugi pointed out. "It's just business."
The pale haired boy shook his head slightly with a small smile. "Business, ka..." he said in a soft voice. "I feel so foolish..." he admitted with a slightly blush.
"Why?" Yuugi looked around and pulled Bakura off the street. "Bakura-kun?"
Bakura was quiet, not looking up.
"Bakura-kun, what's wrong?" Yuugi persisted, looking up into his friend's face.
The pale haired boy's eyes looked on the verge of tears. "If it's just business, then..." He shook his head. "We're going to be late," he said softly, turning to start walking again.
"Bakura-kun!" Yuugi persisted, taking the boy's arm. "Please, tell me what's wrong."
The boy was quiet a moment before turning. "Yuugi-kun...." His voice was vulnerable, eyes echoing the emotion as he looked into his friends eyes, as if searching for something. He dropped his gaze, looking down again. "I don't even know what I'm doing anymore.... It took since yesterday just to get up the courage to even talk to you about what I felt, and I--" His voice caught.
Yuugi took a step closer, raising a hand to touch Bakura's lips gently, quieting him. After a moment, his hand slid to Bakura's cheek, caressing it gently. "Daijoubu, Bakura-kun,"[It's okay] he said softly. "Kaiba-kun doesn't own me."
Bakura's eyes went wide. "Yuu--Yuugi-kun..." he near whispered. Slowly, he smiled, eyes near watering as he leaned into the touch. "Arigato..."[Thank you...]
Yuugi stepped up on his toes to kiss Bakura.
The pale haired boy's eyes widened once more in surprise. Slowly, he melted into the kiss, feeling unsure of his actions.
Slowly, Yuugi intensified the kiss. "We don't have to go to school," he said.
"Yuu-- Yuugi-kun...." Bakura's voice was wavering slightly, seeming overwhelmed. "De-demo..."[Bu--but....]
"Demo?" Yuugi asked, cocking his head to the side. "Don't you want to?"
"I-- I--" the pale hair boy stammered.
"Ii yo, Bakura-kun," [It's fine] Yuugi said with a smile. "I want to."
Bakura hesitated, then looked down, hand on his forehead. "Maybe it's best... just for a while. I'm such a mess right now," he said, voice embarrassed.
"It's ok, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said, taking the other boy's hand. "You can take as long as you want."
Bakura gave a grateful smile.
A short while later the boys arrived at Bakura's house. "My father's off on a dig again, so we shouldn't have to worry about anyone asking why we're not in school," the pale haired boy explained as he unlocked the door. He gave an almost relieved sigh as he placed his bag on the floor and removed his shoes. "Did-- did you want something to drink or anything?" he asked, seeming nervous again.
Yuugi slipped his shoes off and followed Bakura in. "No, I'm ok. What do you want, Bakura-kun?" He stepped close and leaned up, wrapping his arms around Bakura's neck.
Bakura's breath caught slightly at the touch. "Yuu-- Yuugi-kun..." he said in a near whisper, eyes wide.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"I--" The taller boy stammered. "I--"
"It's ok, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said. "I told you, I want to."
"De-demo... hayai yo..." [Bu--but... so fast...]
"Un. Ii janai ka?" [Yeah. That okay?]
"I-- I've never..." Bakura's eyes were almost frightened as he looked at his friend.
"It's ok. I have." Yuugi smiled.
The pale haired boy turned away, breaking from his smaller friends hold, shaking his head slightly, entire posture upset.
"Bakura-kun? What did I do wrong?" Yuugi asked, putting a hand on the taller boy's arm.
"Yasashii Yuugi-kun janai..." [This isn't the gentle Yuugi] Bakura near whispered.
"Demo... this isn't what you wanted?"
Bakura shook his head.
"Gomen ne, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said, eyes clouded. "I thought...."
"Yasashii Yuugi-kun ga daisuki yo..."[I really like/love the gentle Yuugi] The pale haired boy's voice was almost inaudible.
"Dai... suki...?" Yuugi asked in a small voice.
Bakura nodded, not looking over.
"Go-- gomen!" Yuugi cried, hugging Bakura from behind. "No one... has ever said that to me before. I thought...."
The pale haired boy startled slightly, but swiftly relaxed against his friend, eyes shining with emotion. "Yuugi-kun...." He pulled out of the embrace slightly and turned to face his friend, smiling.
"Hontou ni gomen ne, Bakura-kun," [I'm really sorry,] Yuugi repeated. "What do YOU want?"
"I really don't know..." Bakura confessed with a small embarrassed smile.
"It's ok. I'll wait for you." Yuugi hugged Bakura again, leaning against his chest.
The pale haired boy smiled, putting his arm around Yuugi. "Thank you..."
"Kaiba-kun....?"
Kaiba looked up from his book. "What?"
"Yuugi-kun ga suki ka...?" [Do you like Yuugi?] Bakura asked in a quiet voice.
Kaiba looked up sharply. "Don't ask stupid questions."
"So it's all right that I do?"
"Do whatever you want. You don't need to ask me." Kaiba looked back down at his book.
Bakura nodded. "Arigatou..." he said with a smile before leaving.
"Hn," Kaiba snorted. He was surprised to feel a mild twinge of possessiveness, but ignored it. What Yuugi did when he was on his own time wasn't his business.
"So you have another master?" Kaiba asked, tracing the collar on Yuugi's neck as the boy lay strapped to the bed.
"Iie..."[No] Yuugi said, trying to catch his breath to answer. "Bakura-kun to.... [Bakura and...] We don't do this."
"Good," Kaiba said in a low voice, scraping his fingers down Yuugi's chest and causing the boy to arch and cry out under him. He smirked. "You are mine."
---
Yuugi smiled brightly as he met Bakura to walk to school. "Ohayou, Bakura-kun!"[Moring!] he called. "Kyou wa ii tenki deshou ne?"[The weather's nice today, isn't it?]
The pale haired boy gave a soft smile. "Ee," he agreed, looking almost saddened by Yuugi's near glowing appearance. He looked down, hands nervously clenched around the handle of his school bag. "Ne, Yuugi-kun...?" he asked softly.
"Hm," Yuugi asked, looking away from the sky and at his friend. Seeing Bakura's upset expression, he frowned. "Bakura-kun... what's wrong?"
"It's Kaiba-kun, isn't it?" Bakura asked, looking up, eyes full of mixed emotions.
Yuugi's eyes widened in surprise. "What's Kaiba-kun?" he asked nervously.
Bakura looked down at his bag again. "I saw how you kept looking at him yesterday..." His voice was soft and sad.
Yuugi hung his head. "Was I really that obvious?"
There was a small silence. "Yuugi-kun...? Do you love him...?" Bakura finally asked, looking up at his friend.
"What's love got to do with it?" Yuugi asked, confused.
The pale haired boy blinked, almost startled by the response. "The-- the way you were looking at Kaiba-kun, I thought...." he trailed off, confused.
Yuugi smiled again and clasped his hands behind his head, looking up at the sky. "We've been lovers for a few days now. He's really good," he said with a heavy lidded look of satisfaction. He looked back at Bakura, expression clearing. "But that doesn't have anything to do with love...." he added.
Bakura blinked a few times at his smaller friend, then blushed slightly. "Oh..." he said faintly, looking down again.
"So was that what you wanted to know?"
The pale haired boy nodded, still looking at his bag.
"Is something wrong?" Yuugi asked after a pause.
Bakura startled slightly. "Iie,"[No] he said quickly, shaking his head. He gave a small smile that was almost nervous.
Yuugi continued to look concerned. "He doesn't hurt me, if that's what you're worried about," he assured. "Jounouchi-kun yelled at me because it's Kaiba-kun and he's my rival, but he doesn't hurt me."
Bakura shook his head slightly. "I don't think Mou Hitori no Yuugi would stand for it if Kaiba-kun did," he smiled slightly.
"Un," Yuugi agreed, nodding slowly. "Mou hitori no boku is very protective of me. Ne, Bakura-kun, are you sure you're all right?"
The pale haired boy fidgeted slightly with his bag. "I...." he hesitated again before looking over at his shorter friend. "When I saw how you were looking at Kaiba-kun I..." he hesitated again. "I felt jealous..." he admitted, looking back down again, cheeks reddening slightly.
"Jealous?" Yuugi asked. "But why?"
Bakura's blush deepened. "Because I though you loved him..."
Yuugi laughed a bit self consciously. "I guess I was making a bit of an idiot of myself, wasn't I?" he said with a crooked smile. "He gave me this," he said, tracing the line of the collar he wore.
Bakura looked at the collar, eyes conflicted. "Yuugi-kun, I--"
"But it's just so nice to know he thinks enough of me to get it, you know?" the smaller boy continued. "And to know that I don't have to worry about someone trying to hurt me, or worry about histories and if I'm likely to get sick, or... well, or any of that stuff really." He smiled, then saw Bakura's face and grew serious again. "What's wrong, Bakura-kun? You know you can tell me."
The boy's eyes looked almost pained as he gave a small sad smile. "You've always been the best friend I've ever had, Yuugi-kun," he said softly. "The only one I could ever tell anything to, no matter now silly or insane it sounded." He placed a hand on his chest where the Millennium Ring would have been resting. "Which is why I was almost happy when I saw you yesterday, because it meant I had a chance, even if I had to fight Kaiba-kun for it..."
Yuugi's brows drew down. "You had a...?" His eyes flew wide. "Bakura-kun, masaka! You....?" [No way!]
The pale haired boy looked down, face slightly red. He gave a small nod.
"You never said anything," Yuugi said unhappily.
"I was afraid to," Bakura admitted, voice slightly ashamed. "It wasn't until I thought I'd lost my chance that I even could think of telling you...."
"But why do you think you've lost your chance?"
Bakura gave a small smile. "I knew I'd never be able to win against Kaiba-kun if you loved him..."
"But I don't," Yuugi pointed out. "It's just business."
The pale haired boy shook his head slightly with a small smile. "Business, ka..." he said in a soft voice. "I feel so foolish..." he admitted with a slightly blush.
"Why?" Yuugi looked around and pulled Bakura off the street. "Bakura-kun?"
Bakura was quiet, not looking up.
"Bakura-kun, what's wrong?" Yuugi persisted, looking up into his friend's face.
The pale haired boy's eyes looked on the verge of tears. "If it's just business, then..." He shook his head. "We're going to be late," he said softly, turning to start walking again.
"Bakura-kun!" Yuugi persisted, taking the boy's arm. "Please, tell me what's wrong."
The boy was quiet a moment before turning. "Yuugi-kun...." His voice was vulnerable, eyes echoing the emotion as he looked into his friends eyes, as if searching for something. He dropped his gaze, looking down again. "I don't even know what I'm doing anymore.... It took since yesterday just to get up the courage to even talk to you about what I felt, and I--" His voice caught.
Yuugi took a step closer, raising a hand to touch Bakura's lips gently, quieting him. After a moment, his hand slid to Bakura's cheek, caressing it gently. "Daijoubu, Bakura-kun,"[It's okay] he said softly. "Kaiba-kun doesn't own me."
Bakura's eyes went wide. "Yuu--Yuugi-kun..." he near whispered. Slowly, he smiled, eyes near watering as he leaned into the touch. "Arigato..."[Thank you...]
Yuugi stepped up on his toes to kiss Bakura.
The pale haired boy's eyes widened once more in surprise. Slowly, he melted into the kiss, feeling unsure of his actions.
Slowly, Yuugi intensified the kiss. "We don't have to go to school," he said.
"Yuu-- Yuugi-kun...." Bakura's voice was wavering slightly, seeming overwhelmed. "De-demo..."[Bu--but....]
"Demo?" Yuugi asked, cocking his head to the side. "Don't you want to?"
"I-- I--" the pale hair boy stammered.
"Ii yo, Bakura-kun," [It's fine] Yuugi said with a smile. "I want to."
Bakura hesitated, then looked down, hand on his forehead. "Maybe it's best... just for a while. I'm such a mess right now," he said, voice embarrassed.
"It's ok, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said, taking the other boy's hand. "You can take as long as you want."
Bakura gave a grateful smile.
A short while later the boys arrived at Bakura's house. "My father's off on a dig again, so we shouldn't have to worry about anyone asking why we're not in school," the pale haired boy explained as he unlocked the door. He gave an almost relieved sigh as he placed his bag on the floor and removed his shoes. "Did-- did you want something to drink or anything?" he asked, seeming nervous again.
Yuugi slipped his shoes off and followed Bakura in. "No, I'm ok. What do you want, Bakura-kun?" He stepped close and leaned up, wrapping his arms around Bakura's neck.
Bakura's breath caught slightly at the touch. "Yuu-- Yuugi-kun..." he said in a near whisper, eyes wide.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"I--" The taller boy stammered. "I--"
"It's ok, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said. "I told you, I want to."
"De-demo... hayai yo..." [Bu--but... so fast...]
"Un. Ii janai ka?" [Yeah. That okay?]
"I-- I've never..." Bakura's eyes were almost frightened as he looked at his friend.
"It's ok. I have." Yuugi smiled.
The pale haired boy turned away, breaking from his smaller friends hold, shaking his head slightly, entire posture upset.
"Bakura-kun? What did I do wrong?" Yuugi asked, putting a hand on the taller boy's arm.
"Yasashii Yuugi-kun janai..." [This isn't the gentle Yuugi] Bakura near whispered.
"Demo... this isn't what you wanted?"
Bakura shook his head.
"Gomen ne, Bakura-kun," Yuugi said, eyes clouded. "I thought...."
"Yasashii Yuugi-kun ga daisuki yo..."[I really like/love the gentle Yuugi] The pale haired boy's voice was almost inaudible.
"Dai... suki...?" Yuugi asked in a small voice.
Bakura nodded, not looking over.
"Go-- gomen!" Yuugi cried, hugging Bakura from behind. "No one... has ever said that to me before. I thought...."
The pale haired boy startled slightly, but swiftly relaxed against his friend, eyes shining with emotion. "Yuugi-kun...." He pulled out of the embrace slightly and turned to face his friend, smiling.
"Hontou ni gomen ne, Bakura-kun," [I'm really sorry,] Yuugi repeated. "What do YOU want?"
"I really don't know..." Bakura confessed with a small embarrassed smile.
"It's ok. I'll wait for you." Yuugi hugged Bakura again, leaning against his chest.
The pale haired boy smiled, putting his arm around Yuugi. "Thank you..."
"Kaiba-kun....?"
Kaiba looked up from his book. "What?"
"Yuugi-kun ga suki ka...?" [Do you like Yuugi?] Bakura asked in a quiet voice.
Kaiba looked up sharply. "Don't ask stupid questions."
"So it's all right that I do?"
"Do whatever you want. You don't need to ask me." Kaiba looked back down at his book.
Bakura nodded. "Arigatou..." he said with a smile before leaving.
"Hn," Kaiba snorted. He was surprised to feel a mild twinge of possessiveness, but ignored it. What Yuugi did when he was on his own time wasn't his business.
"So you have another master?" Kaiba asked, tracing the collar on Yuugi's neck as the boy lay strapped to the bed.
"Iie..."[No] Yuugi said, trying to catch his breath to answer. "Bakura-kun to.... [Bakura and...] We don't do this."
"Good," Kaiba said in a low voice, scraping his fingers down Yuugi's chest and causing the boy to arch and cry out under him. He smirked. "You are mine."