Chapter Two- Invitation

-Ryou-

I'm late. I'm late, late, late. God, Bakura's going to kill me. Please let him be asleep, dead, anything! Maybe he won't ask about where I've been. Oh, what am I thinking?! Of course he'll ask, only after he reads my mind to see if I tell the truth.

All of these thoughts ran through my head at once. Bakura really will kill me! This morning he specifically told me to be home at three. Well how am I supposed to do that?! Unless I skip my last class, biology, or learn to apparate from one place to another, that won't happen!

I'm beginning to think that he's just saying that stuff like that so he'll have an 'actual reason' to beat me up. Or he wants me to be juvenile like him. Or... I don't know. Maybe I should talk to Yami about him; he usually has good advice. Or he could talk some sense into Bakura. Yeah right. The last time I tried to talk 'sense' into that monster, I got stitches.

I ran up the pavement to my front door when I stopped short. Did I really want to go into that hell house? I took one step back before thinking that it would be best to get this encounter over with now.

I, very carefully, open the door, as though expecting a bomb to explode in my face, and tread just as cautiously into the house.

Nothing happened.

It was like a horror movie. A poor unsuspecting, defenseless victim and a mean bloodthirsty killer. Forget 'like', it was!

I walked into the kitchen, sure that Bakura would leap out, scaring me into oblivion. Unfortunately I was right. With the impact of a frying pan on my face, I fell onto the floor.

I stumbled back to my feet, one hand holding my now-bleeding nose, books and bag lay forgotten on the floor. Bakura made a quick punch to the gut and swept my feet out from underneath me.

If I had any air in me, I'd say 'ow', but it was probably for the best. Bakura seemed satisfied by the damage he had caused, and left the room, stopping only at the door to order me to make dinner.

I sat on the floor for five minutes before moving my sore body to a chair. I suppose it could have been worse; Bakura hasn't really hit me since Battle City.

Battle City.

There's a lot of gaps in my memory about that tournament. I wish I knew exactly what had happened; for my sake.

-Normal-

Somehow, someway, Tea and Yugi managed to break up the terrible trio and started a more peaceful conversation. Joey was just in the middle of telling a really funny joke (according to him) about Kaiba, when Yugi gasped and everyone directed their attention to their pint-sized friend.

"What's up Yuge? I was jus at the punchline a my- dauagh!" Joey looked in the direction of Yugi's stare and doubled back. "Daah! It's da guy from da bus!"

"Honestly, Joseph. I thought you'd recognize me," said a strangely familiar voice in the coat.

"Yur voice is familiar... daahaaah!" Joey screeched again.

The man began to take off the coat. "Can someone shut him up with that?" said Marik.

"I was righ'? Oh, yeah!" Joey laughed while making a victory pose.

Yugi however was not as happy. He didn't forget what Marik had done to try and kill him. And him controlling Joey and Tea didn't get Marik any points in Yugi's book. He may look all happy and cheerful but looks can be deceiving. He acted innocent when he was 'Namu' and he could just be doing that again.

"Marik." Yugi looked at Marik with animosity.

"Yugi." Marik returned the glare and the two kept their eyes on each other like a staring war.

"Tristan, Duke." Finished Tristan. "Now that we all know each other, why are you here?"

Marik's glare on Yugi subsided and he turned to face the rest of the gang, "Well actually, I wanted to invite everybody for a little party-slash-sleepover I'm going to have. My sister's friend has a huge house we're staying at and won't mind company."

"Really?" "Awesome!" "I'll go!" The trio of boys agreed first.

Yugi looked hopefully to Tea. If she said she wouldn't go, he could probably get the others to believe he has an eligible reason to not go too.

"Yeah, it'd be fun!" Tea chirped happily.

All the teens again looked at Yugi, all waiting for the "you bet!" or some other affirmative statement. Yugi weighed his choices. On one hand, he could go hang out with his friends... and Marik. On the other hand, if he stayed at home he wouldn't have anything to do. On the other hand, he had some homework to do. On the other hand, it was the weekend. On the other hand- how did he get so many hands?!

Yugi finally accepted the fact that he couldn't think of any logical reason to stay home. Except for that... no it was nothing. "Al-alright. I guess I'll go."

"It'll be fun." Chimed in Duke.

"Oh, yeah, that reminds me. Could someone call Ryou?" Marik made a face. "I'd ask him myself but I'm afraid."

"Of what, prey tell?" Yugi asked, curiosity overcoming him.

"Of, Bakura, of course." Marik said this as though it was obvious. He heaved his shoulders in a sigh, "You don't know the hassle I went though at his house."

"Enlightened us then." Yugi pressed.

"Well when I went over to his house earlier, he had already left for school and his yami is not much of a welcoming committee, if you get my drift." Marik winced at the memory.

"Anything else?" Yugi continued.

"Well um..." Marik said, obviously trying to beat around the bush. "He's uh... kind-of... coming to the party, but don't worry!" Marik hurriedly said, in the desperate voice that said he did not want to loose the few guests he had. "I made him swear to be good."

"How?" rang from the five teens.

"Don't ask." came the reply.

Yugi-tachi nodded fervently, not sure if Marik was still his usual dark self when it came to his requests.

"Well then, I guess I'll see you there," the Egyptian blonde grabbed a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote down an address, "It's here. You should come around six or so." He started walking off when Joey stopped him.

"'Ey Marik?" Joey waved the paper around, "Is dis a place we'll actually find? Or is it just the dumpsta behind McDonalds?"

Marik smirked, "Trust me, it may house some rats, but it's not dumpster."

"Woah." Joey's voice spoke.

"Ooh." Tea's this time.

"Aaah." Tristan voice.

"Big." Duke finished.

They couldn't help but stare at the house– nay- mansion. It was enormous! They stood at the front gate for what had to be ten, twenty minutes before a familiar voice called out, "Hey Joey, wait up!"

The quartet was joined by a trio; Yugi, Ryou, and Bakura.

"They look petrified." Ryou walked around Joey, waved his hand in front of his face and... nothing.

"Let's leave the trash out here." Bakura said indifferently, as he walked in the gate. "Hm. I could get used to this."

Everybody, now shaken out of the trance, walked to the door and rang the bell. Awe became shock as they found out who the mystery owner of the mansion was...

"Kaiba!" Joey looked bamboozled.

"Mutt." Seto Kaiba grunted in reply.

He moved his gaze from one side of the group to the other, pausing at Yugi, and ending with a frown at Bakura. Bakura looked particularly smug, walking into Kaiba's mansion, just like a thief walking into an unguarded tomb.

"Go in." Everyone began through the doorway, "Except you." said Kaiba. He walked forward towards Bakura, who took equal steps back, as though luring the young business executive into the night. Kaiba stood his ground at the very edge of the front step. The two locked eyes for several seconds before Bakura beckoned Kaiba once more from the house, but Kaiba stood his ground.

At this the rest of the group took as a sign to get inside. Ryou stayed where he was. "Bakura..." At this, Kaiba turned and gave a nod, telling him to go ahead.

"What."

Kaiba turned back around, "Now look, I don't care if Yami is not here now; you behave." With that, Kaiba himself walked in, leaving the door open. Bakura kept his expression until Kaiba was out of sight.

"Pharaoh isn't here," he cackled. "Oh, that makes things so much easier."