Chapter 15 - Christmas Eve
It was getting colder, and the white and grey clouds filled the whole big sky once again. Snow was flaking down again the early next morning. It was Christmas Eve. Ryou yawned loudly, lazily walking himself over to the window. As soon as he saw that it was snowing again, his frown was soon replaced by a bright smile returned back to his lips in ecstatic joy.
"Hey Bakura, it's snowing again!" Ryou yelled at the top of his lungs, hoping to get the yami's reply back upstairs in his own room, however, he didn't respond back. Ryou's frown of disappointment then returned back to his lips at remembering at the thought.
'I hope he's feeling better from yesterday. Why can't he just answer me back?' He sighed softly.
His thoughts were then interrupted by the loud ringing from the telephone sitting on the table beside him. He looked over back at the phone oddly before slowly picking it up.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Ryou! It's so nice to hear from you again. Do you remember my voice?" A bright and cheerful voice spoke at the other end.
"Um, I dont think so." Ryou scratched his head in confusion. Although, the voice itself sounded also somewhat very familiar to him, but he couldn't remember who it belonged it. His mind then snapped, finally realizing at the end. It was Malik.
"Mariku! Yes, it's been very long ever since Battle City. Are you still in Egypt with your family? Are you doing alright?" Ryou spoke excitedly.
"Hai, I'm doing fine." Malik laughed out loud. "I just wanted to call and tell you that I'm coming back to Japan this afternoon for Christmas Eve. We're having dinner at Isis's apartment, so I was wondering if you wanted to come by and see us later."
"Thats great! Sure, I'll come by later and see you two." Ryou nodded.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later then."
"Alright, bye."
"Ja ne."
Ryou hung up the phone, sighing softly. Malik was one of his good friends, and it surprised him the fact he hadn't seen the egyptian boy for a while ever since the pharaoh saved him from yami malik in the Battle City finals. Deep down, he knew that Malik's real personality was kind and gentle, almost like himself. Ryou still felt sorry for him for the way he was misunderstood in the past, but everything seemed to be perfectly fine now.
"Hoi." a low blunt voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Ryou slightly jumped and quickly spinned his head around. It belonged to Bakura, who was walking down the stair case with his own arms crossed over his chest. Ryou only stared at him blankly.
"Oh, Bakura..." Ryou spoke slowly. His muscles immediately loosened up again afterwards seeing it was only his yami. Ryou smiled at him.
"Who was that?" Bakura asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
"It was Malik. He told me he's visiting by for Christmas Eve." Ryou giggled happily while closing his eyes. Instantly, it was obvious he soon noticed that Bakura nearly lost his own balance, causing him to almost literally trip and clumsily fall down the couple of stairs remaining at the bottom floor. Ryou's grin gradually disappeared and was instead replaced by the small sweatdrop forming behind his head, puzzled by what was going on.
"W-WHAT?!?" Bakura choked violently.
"...I said Malik is visiting by. Why?" Ryou gently brushed his cheek with a finger curiously.
"Why the hell is that damn bastard coming here for?!" Bakura clenched his fists tightly, teeth gritting furiously.
"Oh yeah, and I already told him that we're coming over to Isis's apartment later to stay for dinner." Ryou added happily, ignoring the yami's loud outbursts.
"WHAT?! There's no way in hell your going to make me go there!" Bakura crossed his arms over his chest, pouting childishly. It was the truth that he did really hate Malik. He always had. Even though his alliance with the boy never meant anything to him back in the past, instead, Bakura still had a grudge against him from what happened.
"C'mon Bakura, it'll be fun. It's Christmas. Where's your spirit?" Ryou frowned sadly.
"...Aren't I one already?" he finally asked sarcastically after a couple seconds of silence.
"I didn't mean it like that." Ryou sighed, resting his hands on his hips.
"No. I'm not going, and that's final." Bakura's brows narrowed once more, now expressing more seriousness.
"Bakura, I already told them so you have to go with me tonight." Ryou pleaded.
"Try and make me." the cold smirk Ryou knew very well had returned back to Bakura's lips.
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"...I still can't believe you made me come down here, and I'm freezing my ass off out here in this damn cold!" Bakura mumbled annoyingly. Of coarse, Ryou had actually managed to drag him all the way from the struggle they had to roughly go through. Bakura had harshly demanded Ryou to trust him for where he was leading them off to, but instead had accidentally taken the complete wrong path to Isis's apartment by looking at the directions Ryou showed him. Ever since then, they both had been walking around the whole city for an hour just to get back to the right place where they had first left off. Surprisingly, niether of them got sick.
"Stop complaining. Your the one who got us lost in the first place." Ryou accused disappointingly. "Besides, we're only standing outside the door. Thank goodness I found the way to get back again." he forced out a relief sigh.
"Hey, if I never came along then you probably wouldn't have gotten lost in the first place since I wouldn't even BE here to annoy the hell out of you." Bakura pointed out.
"We wouldn't have to in the beginning If you just listened in the first place when I was telling you the directions myself. And that shortcut we took wasn't actually the right place I was expecting." Ryou stated confidently.
"Hmm...I thought it was a shortcut..." Bakura pondered momentairly.
"Yeah, you thought." Ryou corrected bluntly.
It wasn't too long until the door finally opened, revealing the young egyptian blonde. "Ryou! I'm glad you got to make it." Malik smiled brightly. Noticing that Ryou wasn't alone, his lavendar eyes then slowly fixed upon the boy standing right beside him who looked almost exactly alike. Malik almost jumped back in shock.
"Bakura? Is...that...you..?" the tanned boy asked hesitantly.
"Yes, it's me baka. Why, did you think I was actually dead?" Bakura demanded dangerously, but calmly through void and emotionless sharp eyes that glared daggers back.
"Oh no, I just wasn't expecting...to see you...with Ryou. Um, did I miss alot of things on what happened ever since I left? Are ya'll two having a relationship now or something?" Malik scratched his head.
"No!" both of them yelled at the same time. The two white haired boys then looked at each other, but immediately turned back around instantly caused from the blush forming on both of their burning cheeks.
"Hey, I was just asking. " Malik chuckled sheepishly. Bakura glared back at him.
"Hey, do you two wanna come inside now. It's pretty cold outside." Malik shivered.
"Oh yeah, sure." Ryou also shivered. Bakura remained the same.
As soon as Ryou came through the entrance, the very first sight that captured his fascinated eyes were the colorful bright lights that had been neatly decorated on the walls and the big Christmas tree in front of him. A calm music played softly in the background from the stereo. Wrapped presents were shown sitting under the tree, and alot of different types of ornaments hung from the branches by skinny strings. However, Bakura, completely opposite from him, stared somewhat with a disgusted expression.
"Isis is in the kitchen right now cooking, so it's going to take awhile." Malik grumbled impatiently.
"Oh, it's alright. Oh malik?"
"Yah?"
"Have you talked to Yuugi yet ever since you came?" Ryou asked curiously.
"Oh yeah, I did. Him and everyone was at my arrival at the airport this afternoon."
"It's really nice to see you again..." Ryou smiled softly.
"Ah...it's been pretty long, hasn't it?" Malik laughed nervously while rubbing the back of his head.
December 23, 2004
We all ate delicious dinner together later that evening that Isis had cooked for all of us. The random conversations we were discussing about was pretty hilarious that actually made me laugh and have fun for once, mostly that all came from between the small sibling arguments that Malik had between him and his sister. I noticed that Bakura who was in the middle of it wasn't talking very much through the whole thing and he didn't even bother laughing for once. It looked as if he was still glaring at Malik with the look of 'ready to kill' the whole entire time. I didn't know what the problem was that went on between him and Bakura, or was I the only person out of everyone to notice this? Bakura even barely touched his food with his silverware. I guess it makes sense that he doesn't really need to eat since...well...he's really a spirit.
I wasn't expecting it when it suddenly became harder for me to breathe again during when I was eating my meal. I didn't even have my medicine or the respirator with me at the time since I left it back at home, so without any of it made it only worse, but surprisingly I managed to control it since this one wasn't as big and serious like the usual ones I go through most of the time. It wasn't long enough until Bakura then noticed the struggle on my face including the grip I clenched onto my chest, and his last expression upon Malik was replaced by the curious look on his face as he stared at me suspiciously. Luckily, no one else saw this so I was relieved.
I was asked to be politely excused from the table and I quickly ran towards the restroom nearby. Malik and Isis only stared at my back with a puzzled look. Bakura blinked and remained silent.
In the restroom I was struggling more against the pain since it turned out to be a lot worse than I had thought before back at the table. I opened my mouth as wide as possible for me to get enough oxygen into my lungs. I only hoped that it would soon end. I lifted my head from the sink and looked into the mirror in front of me. I saw my own reflection staring back for me to realize that I had so much pain and sorrow reflected back hurtfully at my own image. I didn't understand why it was more easier for me to look this way instead of just crying.
I slowly returned back where everyone else was now sitting silently at my reappearance back at the table. Malik asked me where I went and I told him that I needed to use the restroom for emergency. Of coarse, he was taking it the different way. I looked back at Bakura; who was still staring at me suspiciously. I only smiled back, hoping to myself that it would give him that gesture expressing that I was fine. We all continued to eat more quietly at the end...
"Hey, Ryou." Malik whispered softly into Ryou's ear.
"Huh?"
"Not to be rude or anything...but why does Bakura keep giving me that look?" the blonde boy asked slowly. "He's starting to freak me out."
"Oh...it's probably that he's been grumpy all day for no reason. Don't worry about him." Ryou laughed nervously.
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"Hey! Watch out Bakura!" Malik quickly tried to warn him, but he was too late since the poor boy was totally off guard. A big snowball hit him right in the face, splattering everywhere. Malik gasped in total shock from the accident, but the expression on his face immediately changed into humerous and violent laughter at the end.
Malik had dragged and forced Ryou outside to play in the snow since it was also his first expierence with snow. It was obvious that Bakura somehow got forced into it as well, but he never wanted to be part of the whole excitement. He was already pissed ever since then, and now that Malik hit him with the snowball literally made his anger rise and explode that he had controlled only for temporairly.
"Hey, sorry about that Bakura. I didn't really mean to." Malik had now calmed down from all the hard laughter. Ryou only giggled along with him since he had to agree with him it was quite hilarious seeing that Bakura actually looked funny covered in a big pile of snow.
Bakura gritted his teeth together and growled furiously. "You'll pay for that."
"Aw c'mon Bakura. Have some fun at least." Malik grinned, approaching the angry boy and lightly punching his shoulder playfully.
"The only time when I'll be having fun is when I'll finally get that chance to rip your throat out and make you suffer through hell before a painful death." Bakura spoke lowly and dangerously.
Malik sighed and shook his head disappointingly. "You still haven't changed at all Bakura ever since I met you..." he laughed. "Don't you ever get tired of always being angry?"
"No." Bakura replied back simply, tugging roughly on the scarf he wore around his neck uncomfortably that Ryou had let him borrowed.
"Why can't you be happy for atleast once?" Malik frowned.
"Because being happy is only for stupid weaklings." Bakura was getting more annoyed from all the questions being asked.
Malik sighed softly once more, before glancing back at his lighter twin who was too busy finishing off the big snowman he had made. Ryou stood back a couple of steps to take a better view and giggled, proud of his own hard work. He sighed before staring up at the dark falling night. Stars sparkled brightly high above the threesome boys. Ryou smiled and closed his eyes, allowing the flakes to land down on his pale face.
"He's so innocent. Don't you think?" Malik spoke more gently. "He's always been ever since I first met him in Battle City." Not getting back the quick and obvious answer the blonde teen was expecting to get from Bakura, he raised his eyebrows.
Malik turned back to Bakura, who was currently staring at the white haired boy with a small amount of amusement and interest. Malik then grinned suspiciously after noticing the calm expression on Bakura's now more softened face.
"Your starting to develop some sort of feelings for him now, aren't you...?" Malik closed his eyes halfway. "Of coarse, not meaning it in that wrong way. Just more closer bonds. Just admit it."
"What?! No, of coarse not! Why would I ever like a weakling like him?!" Bakura blurted.
"Okay okay, you hate him. There. Happy?" Malik waved his hands.
"...But I don't literally hate him. I guess...he's okay after all." Bakura spoke more seriously and hesitantly.
"Aha. So you do love him." Malik repeated.
"I NEVER SAID LOVE!" Bakura argued. The tanned youth laughed out loud. Bakura gave back a death cold glare.
"Hey, I'v been wanting to ask you ever since." Malik added.
"What?" Bakura spat back coldly, not bothering to take his eyes off the boy.
"You've been giving me those kind of glares all day. What's the problem here?" Malik asked curiously while scratching his head.
"Heh, and I thought you would be too stupid to notice that." Bakura sneered sarcastically, smirking evilly.
"Well?"
"Well, I'm certain that you still remember that 'promise' you gave me?" Bakura's smirk turned into a frown. He narrowed his eyebrows. "Don't think that I'v forgotten about that. You still haven't given it to me..." he warned.
"Are you taking about the millennium rod?" Malik rolled his eyes and sighed.
Bakura slapped his forehead in frustration. "What else would I be talking about?"
"Do you have to be worrying about that now?" Malik shook his head. "Why can't you just take your mind off your evil ways for a moment and instead relax back and enjoy normal life for once. "
"...I need it, Malik." Bakura ordered more seriously, eyes narrowing into smaller slits.
"Well, it's obvious that I don't have it with me anymore." Malik laughed nervously. "Oh wait, you weren't even there. I gave it to Yuugi at the end after forfeiting my own defeat in the finals."
"WHAT?!?"
"Hey, what are you guys doing?" Ryou got caught in between the situation. Bakura and Malik both looked at him at the same time, not realizing their own actions. "Do you mind if we can back inside now? It's kinda getting colder." Ryou shivered uncontrollably.
"Yeah...Sure." Bakura replied back before sending back Malik another death glare.
"Um...okay. I'll make hot cocoa when we go inside." Malik gulped nervously, now trying for the attempt to avoid his yami as far away as possible as they all went back inside the house.
It was getting colder, and the white and grey clouds filled the whole big sky once again. Snow was flaking down again the early next morning. It was Christmas Eve. Ryou yawned loudly, lazily walking himself over to the window. As soon as he saw that it was snowing again, his frown was soon replaced by a bright smile returned back to his lips in ecstatic joy.
"Hey Bakura, it's snowing again!" Ryou yelled at the top of his lungs, hoping to get the yami's reply back upstairs in his own room, however, he didn't respond back. Ryou's frown of disappointment then returned back to his lips at remembering at the thought.
'I hope he's feeling better from yesterday. Why can't he just answer me back?' He sighed softly.
His thoughts were then interrupted by the loud ringing from the telephone sitting on the table beside him. He looked over back at the phone oddly before slowly picking it up.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Ryou! It's so nice to hear from you again. Do you remember my voice?" A bright and cheerful voice spoke at the other end.
"Um, I dont think so." Ryou scratched his head in confusion. Although, the voice itself sounded also somewhat very familiar to him, but he couldn't remember who it belonged it. His mind then snapped, finally realizing at the end. It was Malik.
"Mariku! Yes, it's been very long ever since Battle City. Are you still in Egypt with your family? Are you doing alright?" Ryou spoke excitedly.
"Hai, I'm doing fine." Malik laughed out loud. "I just wanted to call and tell you that I'm coming back to Japan this afternoon for Christmas Eve. We're having dinner at Isis's apartment, so I was wondering if you wanted to come by and see us later."
"Thats great! Sure, I'll come by later and see you two." Ryou nodded.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later then."
"Alright, bye."
"Ja ne."
Ryou hung up the phone, sighing softly. Malik was one of his good friends, and it surprised him the fact he hadn't seen the egyptian boy for a while ever since the pharaoh saved him from yami malik in the Battle City finals. Deep down, he knew that Malik's real personality was kind and gentle, almost like himself. Ryou still felt sorry for him for the way he was misunderstood in the past, but everything seemed to be perfectly fine now.
"Hoi." a low blunt voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Ryou slightly jumped and quickly spinned his head around. It belonged to Bakura, who was walking down the stair case with his own arms crossed over his chest. Ryou only stared at him blankly.
"Oh, Bakura..." Ryou spoke slowly. His muscles immediately loosened up again afterwards seeing it was only his yami. Ryou smiled at him.
"Who was that?" Bakura asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
"It was Malik. He told me he's visiting by for Christmas Eve." Ryou giggled happily while closing his eyes. Instantly, it was obvious he soon noticed that Bakura nearly lost his own balance, causing him to almost literally trip and clumsily fall down the couple of stairs remaining at the bottom floor. Ryou's grin gradually disappeared and was instead replaced by the small sweatdrop forming behind his head, puzzled by what was going on.
"W-WHAT?!?" Bakura choked violently.
"...I said Malik is visiting by. Why?" Ryou gently brushed his cheek with a finger curiously.
"Why the hell is that damn bastard coming here for?!" Bakura clenched his fists tightly, teeth gritting furiously.
"Oh yeah, and I already told him that we're coming over to Isis's apartment later to stay for dinner." Ryou added happily, ignoring the yami's loud outbursts.
"WHAT?! There's no way in hell your going to make me go there!" Bakura crossed his arms over his chest, pouting childishly. It was the truth that he did really hate Malik. He always had. Even though his alliance with the boy never meant anything to him back in the past, instead, Bakura still had a grudge against him from what happened.
"C'mon Bakura, it'll be fun. It's Christmas. Where's your spirit?" Ryou frowned sadly.
"...Aren't I one already?" he finally asked sarcastically after a couple seconds of silence.
"I didn't mean it like that." Ryou sighed, resting his hands on his hips.
"No. I'm not going, and that's final." Bakura's brows narrowed once more, now expressing more seriousness.
"Bakura, I already told them so you have to go with me tonight." Ryou pleaded.
"Try and make me." the cold smirk Ryou knew very well had returned back to Bakura's lips.
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"...I still can't believe you made me come down here, and I'm freezing my ass off out here in this damn cold!" Bakura mumbled annoyingly. Of coarse, Ryou had actually managed to drag him all the way from the struggle they had to roughly go through. Bakura had harshly demanded Ryou to trust him for where he was leading them off to, but instead had accidentally taken the complete wrong path to Isis's apartment by looking at the directions Ryou showed him. Ever since then, they both had been walking around the whole city for an hour just to get back to the right place where they had first left off. Surprisingly, niether of them got sick.
"Stop complaining. Your the one who got us lost in the first place." Ryou accused disappointingly. "Besides, we're only standing outside the door. Thank goodness I found the way to get back again." he forced out a relief sigh.
"Hey, if I never came along then you probably wouldn't have gotten lost in the first place since I wouldn't even BE here to annoy the hell out of you." Bakura pointed out.
"We wouldn't have to in the beginning If you just listened in the first place when I was telling you the directions myself. And that shortcut we took wasn't actually the right place I was expecting." Ryou stated confidently.
"Hmm...I thought it was a shortcut..." Bakura pondered momentairly.
"Yeah, you thought." Ryou corrected bluntly.
It wasn't too long until the door finally opened, revealing the young egyptian blonde. "Ryou! I'm glad you got to make it." Malik smiled brightly. Noticing that Ryou wasn't alone, his lavendar eyes then slowly fixed upon the boy standing right beside him who looked almost exactly alike. Malik almost jumped back in shock.
"Bakura? Is...that...you..?" the tanned boy asked hesitantly.
"Yes, it's me baka. Why, did you think I was actually dead?" Bakura demanded dangerously, but calmly through void and emotionless sharp eyes that glared daggers back.
"Oh no, I just wasn't expecting...to see you...with Ryou. Um, did I miss alot of things on what happened ever since I left? Are ya'll two having a relationship now or something?" Malik scratched his head.
"No!" both of them yelled at the same time. The two white haired boys then looked at each other, but immediately turned back around instantly caused from the blush forming on both of their burning cheeks.
"Hey, I was just asking. " Malik chuckled sheepishly. Bakura glared back at him.
"Hey, do you two wanna come inside now. It's pretty cold outside." Malik shivered.
"Oh yeah, sure." Ryou also shivered. Bakura remained the same.
As soon as Ryou came through the entrance, the very first sight that captured his fascinated eyes were the colorful bright lights that had been neatly decorated on the walls and the big Christmas tree in front of him. A calm music played softly in the background from the stereo. Wrapped presents were shown sitting under the tree, and alot of different types of ornaments hung from the branches by skinny strings. However, Bakura, completely opposite from him, stared somewhat with a disgusted expression.
"Isis is in the kitchen right now cooking, so it's going to take awhile." Malik grumbled impatiently.
"Oh, it's alright. Oh malik?"
"Yah?"
"Have you talked to Yuugi yet ever since you came?" Ryou asked curiously.
"Oh yeah, I did. Him and everyone was at my arrival at the airport this afternoon."
"It's really nice to see you again..." Ryou smiled softly.
"Ah...it's been pretty long, hasn't it?" Malik laughed nervously while rubbing the back of his head.
December 23, 2004
We all ate delicious dinner together later that evening that Isis had cooked for all of us. The random conversations we were discussing about was pretty hilarious that actually made me laugh and have fun for once, mostly that all came from between the small sibling arguments that Malik had between him and his sister. I noticed that Bakura who was in the middle of it wasn't talking very much through the whole thing and he didn't even bother laughing for once. It looked as if he was still glaring at Malik with the look of 'ready to kill' the whole entire time. I didn't know what the problem was that went on between him and Bakura, or was I the only person out of everyone to notice this? Bakura even barely touched his food with his silverware. I guess it makes sense that he doesn't really need to eat since...well...he's really a spirit.
I wasn't expecting it when it suddenly became harder for me to breathe again during when I was eating my meal. I didn't even have my medicine or the respirator with me at the time since I left it back at home, so without any of it made it only worse, but surprisingly I managed to control it since this one wasn't as big and serious like the usual ones I go through most of the time. It wasn't long enough until Bakura then noticed the struggle on my face including the grip I clenched onto my chest, and his last expression upon Malik was replaced by the curious look on his face as he stared at me suspiciously. Luckily, no one else saw this so I was relieved.
I was asked to be politely excused from the table and I quickly ran towards the restroom nearby. Malik and Isis only stared at my back with a puzzled look. Bakura blinked and remained silent.
In the restroom I was struggling more against the pain since it turned out to be a lot worse than I had thought before back at the table. I opened my mouth as wide as possible for me to get enough oxygen into my lungs. I only hoped that it would soon end. I lifted my head from the sink and looked into the mirror in front of me. I saw my own reflection staring back for me to realize that I had so much pain and sorrow reflected back hurtfully at my own image. I didn't understand why it was more easier for me to look this way instead of just crying.
I slowly returned back where everyone else was now sitting silently at my reappearance back at the table. Malik asked me where I went and I told him that I needed to use the restroom for emergency. Of coarse, he was taking it the different way. I looked back at Bakura; who was still staring at me suspiciously. I only smiled back, hoping to myself that it would give him that gesture expressing that I was fine. We all continued to eat more quietly at the end...
"Hey, Ryou." Malik whispered softly into Ryou's ear.
"Huh?"
"Not to be rude or anything...but why does Bakura keep giving me that look?" the blonde boy asked slowly. "He's starting to freak me out."
"Oh...it's probably that he's been grumpy all day for no reason. Don't worry about him." Ryou laughed nervously.
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"Hey! Watch out Bakura!" Malik quickly tried to warn him, but he was too late since the poor boy was totally off guard. A big snowball hit him right in the face, splattering everywhere. Malik gasped in total shock from the accident, but the expression on his face immediately changed into humerous and violent laughter at the end.
Malik had dragged and forced Ryou outside to play in the snow since it was also his first expierence with snow. It was obvious that Bakura somehow got forced into it as well, but he never wanted to be part of the whole excitement. He was already pissed ever since then, and now that Malik hit him with the snowball literally made his anger rise and explode that he had controlled only for temporairly.
"Hey, sorry about that Bakura. I didn't really mean to." Malik had now calmed down from all the hard laughter. Ryou only giggled along with him since he had to agree with him it was quite hilarious seeing that Bakura actually looked funny covered in a big pile of snow.
Bakura gritted his teeth together and growled furiously. "You'll pay for that."
"Aw c'mon Bakura. Have some fun at least." Malik grinned, approaching the angry boy and lightly punching his shoulder playfully.
"The only time when I'll be having fun is when I'll finally get that chance to rip your throat out and make you suffer through hell before a painful death." Bakura spoke lowly and dangerously.
Malik sighed and shook his head disappointingly. "You still haven't changed at all Bakura ever since I met you..." he laughed. "Don't you ever get tired of always being angry?"
"No." Bakura replied back simply, tugging roughly on the scarf he wore around his neck uncomfortably that Ryou had let him borrowed.
"Why can't you be happy for atleast once?" Malik frowned.
"Because being happy is only for stupid weaklings." Bakura was getting more annoyed from all the questions being asked.
Malik sighed softly once more, before glancing back at his lighter twin who was too busy finishing off the big snowman he had made. Ryou stood back a couple of steps to take a better view and giggled, proud of his own hard work. He sighed before staring up at the dark falling night. Stars sparkled brightly high above the threesome boys. Ryou smiled and closed his eyes, allowing the flakes to land down on his pale face.
"He's so innocent. Don't you think?" Malik spoke more gently. "He's always been ever since I first met him in Battle City." Not getting back the quick and obvious answer the blonde teen was expecting to get from Bakura, he raised his eyebrows.
Malik turned back to Bakura, who was currently staring at the white haired boy with a small amount of amusement and interest. Malik then grinned suspiciously after noticing the calm expression on Bakura's now more softened face.
"Your starting to develop some sort of feelings for him now, aren't you...?" Malik closed his eyes halfway. "Of coarse, not meaning it in that wrong way. Just more closer bonds. Just admit it."
"What?! No, of coarse not! Why would I ever like a weakling like him?!" Bakura blurted.
"Okay okay, you hate him. There. Happy?" Malik waved his hands.
"...But I don't literally hate him. I guess...he's okay after all." Bakura spoke more seriously and hesitantly.
"Aha. So you do love him." Malik repeated.
"I NEVER SAID LOVE!" Bakura argued. The tanned youth laughed out loud. Bakura gave back a death cold glare.
"Hey, I'v been wanting to ask you ever since." Malik added.
"What?" Bakura spat back coldly, not bothering to take his eyes off the boy.
"You've been giving me those kind of glares all day. What's the problem here?" Malik asked curiously while scratching his head.
"Heh, and I thought you would be too stupid to notice that." Bakura sneered sarcastically, smirking evilly.
"Well?"
"Well, I'm certain that you still remember that 'promise' you gave me?" Bakura's smirk turned into a frown. He narrowed his eyebrows. "Don't think that I'v forgotten about that. You still haven't given it to me..." he warned.
"Are you taking about the millennium rod?" Malik rolled his eyes and sighed.
Bakura slapped his forehead in frustration. "What else would I be talking about?"
"Do you have to be worrying about that now?" Malik shook his head. "Why can't you just take your mind off your evil ways for a moment and instead relax back and enjoy normal life for once. "
"...I need it, Malik." Bakura ordered more seriously, eyes narrowing into smaller slits.
"Well, it's obvious that I don't have it with me anymore." Malik laughed nervously. "Oh wait, you weren't even there. I gave it to Yuugi at the end after forfeiting my own defeat in the finals."
"WHAT?!?"
"Hey, what are you guys doing?" Ryou got caught in between the situation. Bakura and Malik both looked at him at the same time, not realizing their own actions. "Do you mind if we can back inside now? It's kinda getting colder." Ryou shivered uncontrollably.
"Yeah...Sure." Bakura replied back before sending back Malik another death glare.
"Um...okay. I'll make hot cocoa when we go inside." Malik gulped nervously, now trying for the attempt to avoid his yami as far away as possible as they all went back inside the house.