Ok for starters I would like to state that I like Mai I really do. We share similar views on men Joey aka Jounouchi is kawii and most men are useless scum not worthy to lick our boots. But as do many yaoi fans we do not see JouXMai as a stable relationship. I mean they do have some very touching moments but that is really all I see. Now why pair Jounouchi with Bakura? Well I was thinking about all the touching Jounouchi and Bakura moments mainly when he almost got disqualified because he was freaking out so much because of Bakura's condition. After about ten minutes of daydre...I mean thinking the idea hit me so I went with it. I really have no idea how this fic will be taken but that really does not mater people will either like it or they won't. There's not much I can do about that other then hope.

WarNinGs: Uncommon Pairing, Some Blood and Violence, Yaoi/Shounen-Ai content, References to Ancient Egyptian Mythology, and Japanese Names.

Aishi Say

"You cannot go from hating some one to loving them!" Bakura to Jounouchi latter on in the fic, personally I disagree with my Fave on this one.

"Listen Jounouchi it just isn't working out between the two of us." Mai stated from where she was seated across form her fellow blonde at a nice outdoor table. She frowned a little playing with her drink's umbrella as she gave her former koibito time to absorb what she had just said.

Jounouchi watched her for a long moment. "You ain't even tryin' Mai." He countered looking away from her golden eyes wavering as they closed.

Mai lowered her head for a moment feeling a pang of guilt. She had hoped that making a clean honest break would hurt him less now she was thinking she should have just left a note and ran. At lest then she would not have to see him hurting. "Jounouchi I am quite found of you but this is the end so please excepted it?" She sighed softly. "I just do not belong with the gumi or with you."

Jounouchi looked up and reached out taking her hands in his. "Yes you do Mai! We...we all love you."

Mai smiled patting his hands as she stood. "I know that Jounouchi but I just can't deal with the weirdness anymore. Sorry kid maybe in a few years things will work out better." She walk up to his right hand on his shoulder. "I will miss you so take care of yourself." Jounouchi blinked when she kissed his cheek. "Good bye my brave knight." Jounouchi did not turned to watch her go he just sat there face in his hands.

Jounouchi sighed hands in his pockets head down. -I guess I'm not too surprise by all of it. Deep down I always knew it probably wouldn't work out but I had to try anyway. I just had to take a chance and now I'm paying for it.- He sighed again before turning his head swearing he heard something. -Hun? Probably just some neko.- Jounouchi turned when a scream attracted his attention. -Oh fuck I know that scream!- He growled taking off for it's source.

Jounouchi rounded a corner freezing going unnoticed by both the attacker and his victim. Bakura was lying on his side a large man in leather stood above him long knife blade flashing. Bakura grunted propping himself up with his hands large scared brown eyes shining. Jounouchi clenched his fists when he saw a blood trail down his friend's right cheek and his striped shirt was slashed open. -That freak is so going to get it now!- He thought taking step forward when a familiar laugh froze him again. Bakura threw his head back laughing. "He..Hey! What so funny boushen?" The thug asked clearly unnerved by his prey's sudden change of attitude. Jounouchi frowned he knew exactly what was going on that man who ever he was had made a big mistake and now his life was forfeit.

"You baka little mortal." Bakura sneered face still to the sky eyes still closed. "How dare you challenge me!" He looked at the man eyes as red as his blood. The man took a step back as Bakura stood crossing his arms. "A pretty face can hide many things." He flicked a lock of white hair over his shoulder. "Take me for example?"

"Wha...what are you?"

Bakura sneered clearly planning on enjoying himself. "Who little old me?" He laughed. "Why I am an ancient evil that has returned to try an rule the world." The man blinked at him as if he was crazy. "I know it's so cliché but what can one do? It was original enough in my time." He shrugged before tearing his slashed shirt away.

"You don't look some ancient evil." The thug challenged.

Bakura frowned looking him self over. "Your right I guess you don't do I?" He asked looking up red eyes flashing. "Of course the red eyes aren't a dead give away hun?" Pale lips curled into a smirk as pale hands moved to from a triangle in front of his chest. "Let's try this then shall we?" The punk jumped back as the Ring phased threw Bakura's chest before it flashed. "Pretty isn't it?" He stoked it smiling. "Prrrrecccioussss." Bakura purred before laughing again.

"FREAK!" The punk cried charging with his long knife having made his mind his prey was crazy but harmless.

Bakura turned holding out his right hand palm down. "Big mistake. Huge." He commented amused as he raised his hand glowing a bright blue. The thug screamed as a beam of blue light hit him before falling to the Yami's feet with a dull thud. "That'll teach you to attack my Hikari." Bakura snapped kicking the man onto his back. "Hello, hello?" He crouched down unclasping a necklace form around the dead man's neck. A long delicate looking ankh with pointed claw like tips hung form a soft velvety black cord. He twirled it around allowing the sky's light to play of off raised sharp look surfaces with a smile. "Thanks for the souvenir and looks it even matches my hair."

"Bakura?" Jounouchi called stepping into view.

"Jounouchi?!" The Yami gasped whirling around necklace still in hand.

Jounouchi stared into wide surprise crimson eyes for a moment before speaking again. "I thought you were gone."

Bakura blinked at him. "As long as the Ring remains so shall I just as your precious Yami."

"You killed him."

"So what he attacked my Hikari and was planning on doing worst. Why are you here anyway?" Bakura asked evidently in the mood to talk with not kill his enemy's closest friend at lest for the moment.

"I heard you...him scream so I came to help." Jounouchi admitted seeing no reason to lie about his motivations.

"Ah of course. If I really was gone little Ryou would have been completely defenseless."

Jounouchi growled. "We'd protect him!" He protested golden eyes narrow challenging the Yami to say otherwise.

"Oh I'm sure." Bakura scoffed. "You can't even protect your self baka. I could kill you with a thought."

"So why don't ya?" Jounouchi scoffed back blinking when Bakura blinked. -Rule one don't piss off bipolar dead people. He's right tough he could easily do to me what he did to that guy and I can't even try to stop him.-

"You almost got disqualified trying to help Ryou. You may despise me but you are no threat."

"I could go tell Yami you're back?" Jounouchi reminded him.

Bakura smiled. "True but I will return. Ryou is mine just as Yugi is Yami's"

"No he's not!" Jounouchi growled fists clenching.

"Why because I'm the bad guy?" Bakura asked clasping on the ankh. "If I hadn't have taken control then your dear Pharaoh would have either lost or would have had to attacked Ryou. Do you think he could take a god's wrath at his best? Yami uses Yugi the same way I do but he's allowed to."

"Ok maybe you have helped a little but you're still evil."

"I am a Yami." Bakura said simply as if those four words explain everything.

"Yami's not evil!" Jounouchi countered.

"I never said he was." Bakura retorted calmly.

Jounouchi growled charging forward feed up with the Yami's smug indifference. He pined him to the wall grabbing the Ring with his right hand. "SHUT UP!" Narrow gold eyes stared into wide ruby ones. Only to blink in surprise when the Sennen Ring phased out and he found his hand on Bakura's chest.

Bakura sneered. "Honda got it off because he surprised me you will not be so lucky."

Jounouchi growled moving his right hand form Bakura's chest to his arm. "Maybe but you're powerless now."

"Baka I am far from it."

"Why do you want the items? All they seem to bring is pain." Jounouchi asked thinking back on every time Yugi had suffered because he was the Sennen Puzzle's keeper.

"I don't care about that. I have no one in this world what do I care of pain?" Bakura growled eyes narrowed.

"So you're lonely and in pain let us help you?"

Bakura laughed bitterly. "Help me? Spare me you've spent too much time around Anzu. Your precious Yami wants me dead and gone, your happy little gumi loathes me, and you yourself have said on a few occasions you would shed no tears over my passing. None of you goody goodies want to help me you want me dead and Ryou Item less just like the rest of you. Just another pawn in the Fate's twisted little game. Wake up baka! Ryou is me nothing any of you say or do will ever change that fact."

"We'll protect him once your gone."

"I will protect him he is my reincarnation not yours." Bakura countered fingers curling like claws on the cold stonewall behind him.

"I don't give a flying fuck about that crap he's my friend and I look out for my own."

"I know that he is very found of you as well."

"He is?!" Jounouchi asked clearly thrown off guard by the Yami's comment.

Bakura nodded. "Yes he is. He knows how desperately you wanted to help, to protect him. We both know you would killed me if you could to reach that goal."

"You're right I would." Jounouchi agreed tighting his grip.

"You keep saying you would protect him but how would you? Yami has powers but even he cannot protect all of you from even powerless men al the time. Even Seto Kaiba with all his power cannot constantly protect one person. Face it you are powerless and you hate it."

"Maybe I do but I still try." Bakura felt Jounouchi's hands slip down his arms taking his wrists. "I think you want to change but you just don't know how."

"Don't be a baka." Bakura muttered.

"You want what Ba...Ryou wants because you are him."

Crimson eyes flashed in anger. "What would you know about what I want?" Bakura growled. "I am neither Marik nor Yami my wants and desires not all stem from those of my Hikari."

"Ok fine so which do?"

"We both wish to survive."

"We all want to live there's nothing wrong with that it's only human." Bakura gaped at him. "But there has to be a better way. Why can't you just exist like Yugi and Yami do?"

"It is not that simple I am Yami he is Hikari we cannot merge as easily as Yugi and Yami...we are too different. We have an understanding I do not feed on you and he lets me do as I wish., not that he could easily stop me."

"What if you two separated?"

Bakura was quite for a moment. "He would probably return home to his family so he could no longer be easily used against the Pharaoh."

"So he'd leave just like Mai?...I can't say I blame him as long as he's around us he can be used like us against Yami. Of course with out you he'd be helpless. You may be an evil bastard but at lest you do protect him."

"So glad you approve." Bakura muttered staring to get fed up with all this talking. "Now release me I tire of this."

"If you want free you'll have to blast me like you did that guy."

Bakura blinked. "Baka! Are you in such a hurry to die?"

"Look pal I stood down Ra remember? I'll take my chances with you." -Besides Yami can always just bring me back out of the Shadow realm.-

"Then chose your god I will send you to whom ever you desire?"

"Anubis. I've always like inu."

"He's a jackal baka!"

"Oh...what's the difference?"

"Have you no respect?"

"Dude please Kami rule here not your guys."

"You can tell them that when you face your final judgment. For you sake I hope your heart is light."

Jounouchi could feel the heat of the blue flames that suddenly engulfed Bakura but they were not unpleasant. He watched the Ring's sharp looking prong's aim at him when curiously hit. "Wait on question?"

Bakura blinked but nodded. "Ask it."

"What do you mean when you said my heart is light?"

"You modern people really do know nothing useful." Bakura muttered. -It would only be fair to educate him after all he's not that bad considering he is Yami's best friend- "The Sennen Scale is symbolic of this rite. Your heart is weighed against the Feather of Truth to determine what will become of your...rei you call it now. If your heart is light then you are reward if not..."

"Like yours?" Jounouchi asked cutting the Yami off.

"I was a tomb raider now just a murdering thief I belief you called me once. In any case I am immortal now so I have no fear of...damnation but yes my heart would be heavy."

"Because you're sad?" Jounouchi asked knowing a heavy heart meant that.

"No because I am EVIL!" Bakura corrected screaming blue flames flaring around Jounouchi lapping like cats at the blonde's clothes. Jounouchi toke a step back but held his ground remembering his duel with Marik. -I lived threw that I can live threw this it's mostly just show anyway.- He blinked when the flames died back down to their normal intensity before dieing completely. -Nani?!- "Why won't you just let go?" Bakura asked head still back but blood colored gaze on him.

Jounouchi blinked. "I said if you wanted free you'd have to blast my ass and I meant it." He answered with his normal cockiness.

Bakura growled slightly in frustration lightly banging the back of his head against cold stone. "Baka human why?"

"Why are you are you hesitating?" Jounouchi asked watching red eyes narrow slightly as pale lips curled just enough to show off an almost fang like tooth. "Are you that intrigued that you just can't do me?" He asked unconcerned by the Yami's clear annoyance.

"Do not flatter yourself." Bakura answered having snapping it. "What is time to an immortal?" He asked softly dark eyes closing

"Nothing at all." Jounouchi answered softly staring at the dried blood on a pale angular cheek. -I have no one in this world what do I care of pain?-

Bakura froze eyes snapping open when he felt gentle fingertips trailing down his palms before Jounouchi's fingers interlaced with is own. He turned gaping in open confusion at Jounouchi. "Jou...?" Bakura started only to be cut off by the soft sweet warmth of Jounouchi's gentle lips. When the initial shock wore of Bakura tried to get away for a moment before closing his eyes fingers curling around Jounouchi's as he yielded to the other's advances.

Jounouchi deepened the kiss instinctively when he felt the other's resistance give way. He opened his eyes when he felt a metallic chill bite threw his shirt. -Kami what am I doing?!- Jounouchi toke a step back releasing Bakura's warm pale frame as he did so watching crimson eyes open then blink in confusion. "Was that some sort of trick?" He demanded dazed.

Bakura shook his head and Jounouchi did not know it meant no or if he was trying to clear it. "The Rod controls not my Ring, that is unless I call certain cards." The Yami answered watching the blonde.

"Good because I'm really sick and tired of Item's little tricks." Jounouchi muttered shaking his own head.

"Irrelevant!" Bakura snapped. "First the grabbing now..." He trailed off with a sigh looking Heavenward. "Thoth himself would be confused as well."

"Thoth?" Jounouchi repeated. "Some smart dude?"

"Be silent!" Bakura ordered glaring at him.

Jounouchi turned to face him unfazed by the outburst after spending so time yelling with Kaiba he was used to the death glares and screaming. "Look you don't have to be like this." He assured him taking a page form Yami and Yugi's book of dealing with an equally defensive Kaiba.

"Oh and why not?" Bakura asked crossing his arms.

Jounouchi smiled to himself. -It seems the same kindda stuff sets them off good to know. Time to come clean and hope to Kami he leaves me in one piece when he's done- "Because...because I meant what I did." -Here we go.- Jounouchi thought head down golden gaze locked on the pale youth.

Bakura gaped at him before balling his fists pale lean form trembling with suppressed emotion. "You lie!" He snapped after a few long moments before turning his back on Jounouchi long light blue button down flaring as he did so before trembling with it's owner once more.

Jounouchi watched him eyes wavering slightly. "No I didn't." He countered reaching out a hand before pulling it back. "Ok look maybe there's a lot of bad blood between us but I want..."

"To Ammit's gut with what you want!" Bakura snapped right arm flinging out in a gesture of frustration. "You cannot go from hating some one to loving them! Do not confuse your feeling for Ryou with your feelings for me!" Jounouchi reached out a hand placing it on a trembling shoulder wanting to give some sort of comfort to the trembling youth. He blinked when Bakura pulled away smacking his hand away as if he was being attacked. "DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Jounouchi rubbed his hand before he started to reach out again before pulling his hand back not wanting to get smacked again. "Bakura please calm down? I want to help you."

Bakura hugged himself. "Just leave me alone!"

"Why? What are you so afraid of?" Jounouchi demanded turning the Yami around to face him. "Tell me?"

Bakura growled backhanding Jounouchi to the ground. "Stay away from me or die." He warned red eyes glowing in the shadows his long bangs cast.

Jounouchi reached out to grab a pant leg as Bakura turned and ran but missed empty fingers hitting the pavement. "Bakura?" He called after the fleeing figure before bowing his head fist on the pavement. "You don't have to be afraid of me." Jounouchi whispered to no one.

"Good morning Jounouchi." Bakura greeted his fellow student smiling warming.

"Oh hey Bakura." Jounouchi mumbled back chin still on his knees.

The cheerful youth continued to smile for a moment before frowning. What's wrong Jounouchi?" Bakura asked concerned.

"Hun?...oh gomen just having an off day. What happened to you last night?"

Bakura sat down beside his friend frowning slightly in thought as he hugged his knees as well. "I remember being attacked by some large man in leather then wakening up this morning. I wasn't covered in dried blood or drained like when my Yami goes on a killing spree so I assume he just killed my attacker and called it a night." He turned to blink at Jounouchi. "How did you know something happened?"

Jounouchi gently toke Bakura's chin in his hand turning his head slightly. "You have a scratch." He answered. -It looks ok good.-

"Oh! I almost forgot about that."

Jounouchi nodded use to Bakura's occasional flaky moments. He glanced at him wondering if the ankh his Yami had stolen was still around his pale neck. Unlike himself the pale youth wore his uniform closed so he no way of knowing other then asking. He sighed catching sight of Yugi taking to Kaiba about something or other out of some book. Kaiba seemed to be disagreeing with the smaller youth but at lest he was not storming off like he would have in the past. Jounouchi smiled at that before catching sight of Otogi and Honda playing Dungeon Dice Monsters under a large tree Anzu and Shizuka cheering in turn. "Hey Bakura you still got that Egyptian book on ya?"

Bakura blinked at him. "Of course Jounouchi why?"

"Is it cool if I barrow it for a little while?" Jounouchi asked sheepishly.

Bakura turned pulling the thick book form his bag. "Here. Feel free to barrow it for as long as you want." He held out the book smiling his sweet innocent smile so unlike his Yami's cruel sneer.

Jounouchi blinked. -Don't think about him right now.- "Thanks man I'll take good care of it so don't you worry."

"I know you will Jounouchi. May I ask why you want it?"

"You never know when you may need to know some god's name or whatever."

"That is a good point. I'm going to go watch the match care to join me?"

"You go I want to do a little reading."

"All right take care Jounouchi."

"Ja Bakura." Jounouchi called opening the book as the other youth walked off. - Ok let's see...Thoth. Scribe god...blah, blah...smart guy but weird lookin'. Ok hum...? Ah here we go that judgment thingy. Ammit devours the wicked souls so last night Bakura basically said to Hell with what I want. Well that's encouraging. Poor Ryou has no idea what happened but why would he it's not like they merge like Yami and Yugi? Isis hey I've heard of her. Sounds like a goddess I'd want in my corner. Hathor? Goddess of love...blah, blah, blah. So this whole mess is your fault hun cow lady? Thanks a lot-

Well you have now come to the end. Hello! Please leave a review if you have any opinion at all about this fic? Praise, flames, prayers for my sanity, ect are all welcome. It is time to find out weather or not anyone else on FNN likes Jounouchi paired with Bakura or not. Whatever you all decide it's been fun.

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