Passing Fancy

(a.k.a. "How The Authoress Decided to Make My Life Miserable In Any Way Possible" by Yugi Mutou)

**

"I think he could have handled that on his own," Bakura muttered as he and Yami trooped back to the bedroom. "He didn't need to call you out there."

Yami was sort of looking bemused by the whole incident, most especially to Bakura's reaction to it. "You're just upset over what Duke Devlin said."

"No shit," Bakura growled. "But I'm trying to keep my complaints in chronological order here. What is that, the sixteenth time Yugi's interrupted us since he got here yesterday? What is it with that kid? And why do you come running every time he calls?"

"I don't know, possibly because it's my job to do so," Yami replied, folding his arms. "Something of a protective guardian spirit, you know?"

"Don't you think that's a little out-dated?" Bakura asked. "I've heard these modern-day mortals are rather adept at taking care of themselves."

"Like you would know; when's the last time you did anything of the sort for Ryou? You're never even around him anymore, how would you know if he needed you? That's what we're here for."

"No it's not." Bakura glowered at him. "You are here because you just had to go and die in Egypt, and then they mummified you. And everybody knows the point of being mummified is so you can come back later. And I am here because I killed myself so I could follow you. Did I miss the part where we got enrolled in the Mortal-Protection-Program?"

Yami's eyes narrowed. "Apparently you have, for if you hadn't you might actually do a better job of it. And I am going to continue protecting Yugi as I always have, interruptions or not. And speaking of which, I'm starting to think we are a little over-sexed anyway."

Bakura stared at him. "You don't mean that!"

"Maybe you should spend some more time around Ryou; I think he gets lonely hanging around his house all by himself all the time while you're here with me. And besides, it'll be good for you to remember exactly why our spirits were allowed to come back like this." Yami strolled calmly into the bedroom, closing the door behind him and leaving Bakura staring after him in shock.

"I can't believe he really said that!" Bakura muttered aloud as he stomped into the living room. "He didn't seem to mind being so over-sexed before Yugi came over…"

But it wasn't really Yugi's fault, Bakura decided. It was Kaiba's. Kaiba was the one who had broken sappy little Yugi's heart, and now Yugi was here causing hell between Yami and Bakura with his constant whiny need for things. So now somehow Bakura had to get rid of Yugi, and somehow patch things up with Yami.

What was it Yami had said he wanted Bakura to do? Something about taking care of Ryou. Bakura frowned, mulling that over; sounded like it would take more time and effort than he really wanted to put into it. Maybe he could manage both at the same time…

Well, Yami said he thought Ryou was lonely. So maybe if Ryou and Yugi got together, it'd solve both of Bakura's problems. And Kaiba could just go rot in his big empty mansion because it was all his fault to begin with.

Bakura crawled under the little table in the living room to plug the telephone back in. He hated telephones most of the time; they always rang at the most inconvenient times, and worst of all, Yami would always answer them anyway. So Bakura had made a habit of unplugging the damned things.

Ryou picked up on the second ring. "Hello?"

"Ryou? Mind coming over here for a minute?"

**

Seto glowered at the traffic as if that alone would make it disappear. He didn't get it; that glare always worked on people. But the cars insistently barring him from getting to Yugi refused to budge.

He'd tried calling Yugi a last time from his cell phone, but had gotten a busy signal that time. This was bordering on ridiculous. He was going to be really glad when this whole mess was cleared up, and Yugi was back where he belonged. Seto let out a frustrated noise and settled down for a long drive.

At last, at last, the traffic pulled itself free of its stagnated state, but Seto's relief as they approached Yugi's house was tinged with anxiety. He wasn't really sure if he wanted to see just how mad Yugi was at him. If Bakura dared tell him he couldn't see Yugi this time…

But it was Yami that answered the door. Seto relaxed; this spirit he could at least get a straight answer from. It was amazing that there was ever a time he could have confused Yami for being Yugi. "Is Yugi here?"

Yami blinked at Seto in surprise. "Kaiba? No, Yugi left about ten minutes ago. He and Ryou were going out to see a movie. If you hurry you might be able to catch them."

Seto was getting really sick of this. Not even so much as saying goodbye, he stalked back toward the car, ordering the driver to take him to the nearest movie theater. With the traffic cleared out, they made record time in getting there.

Yugi was short, but there was never any hardship in picking him out in a crowd. He and Ryou were standing outside the theater buying the tickets. Seto was actually surprised to see him looking so happy as he chattered away about whatever to Ryou. Ryou laughed at whatever it was Yugi said, handing his diminutive friend his ticket. Hand-in-hand, the two entered the building.

Determined to talk to Yugi before the day was through, Seto bought a ticket for the movie, noticing with some chagrin that it was the same film he'd promised to take Yugi to see the day before.

The theater was already dark when Seto got inside, the credits starting to roll. He paused just inside the entrance, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dark, then looking around for Yugi.

He spotted Yugi sitting nearer to the front, sitting on Ryou's lap and laughing as Ryou fed him popcorn. They made such a perfect picture of a happy couple that Seto had a hard time swallowing past the lump in his throat. Deciding that he could wait to talk to Yugi until he wasn't all lovingly cuddled with Ryou, Seto turned on his heel hurriedly left.