Long time, no chapter, eh? The reason's in my profile if you'd like to know. All that matters this is up, right? Heh...

Chapter 6

"Make way for the best bass player alive!" Jounouchi announced, walking through the front door.

Bakura rolled his eyes. "More like, make your way for the biggest idiot alive..."

"Hey! I heard that!"

"Drop it, Jou," Honda warned, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him into the house. "Hey, where's Malik? He's got my keys..."

Ryou appeared from behind a doorway. "He's coming. He's upstairs getting dressed."

Jounouchi raised a brow. "Why is it that no one ever stays fully clothed in this house?"

Yami flashed Jounouchi a curious grin as he entered the house with Yuugi-in-tow. "What's this about not being fully clothed?"

"You don't wanna know," Honda warned.

Malik rushed in the hall not too long after, the keys jingling in his hand. "Honda, there you are!" He handed him his keys. "Sorry about last night..."

"Don't worry about it," Honda assured him. "I'm sure it was for a good cause."

Bakura glowered. "Can someone please shut the door?"

Yuugi closed it and walked in, greeting Ryou and Malik. "It's good to see you two again. Malik, how did things go last night with Bakura?"

Everyone seemed to go silent, and turned to Malik for his response.

"Oh, well," Malik said, feeling slightly pressured by everyone's inquisitive stares. "Nothing really happened-"

"He gallantly rescued me from those two pricks who were bothering Ryou last night." Bakura said suavely, swinging an arm over Malik's shoulder.

"Eh, gallantly?" Jounouchi repeated, scratching his head. "Did he ride in on a white horse or somethin'?"

"No, all he needed was a brick."

"It's amazing how a simple brick could bring two people so close," Jounouchi teased.

"We're not close-!" Malik retorted.

"Bakura's arm is around you..." Yuugi pointed out. "How much closer could you get?"

Bakura seemed to be laughing quietly the whole time.

Did he think this was funny?

Ryou tried to help Malik out. "They're finally friends. That's all."

"I'm friends with Bakura and he doesn't put his arm around me!" Jounouchi said, stating fact.

"Is that jealousy I sense, Jou?" Honda asked, a smirk upon his face.

"Heck no. I just almost envy anyone who could get so close to our lead guitarist and vocalist."

Malik was so close to blushing and he wasn't sure why. In and instant he was away from Bakura and almost on the other side of the room.

"There is nothing going on between us!" he said.

"Actually," Bakura said, a devious smile upon his face. "He did kiss me."

"WHAT!?" everyone yelled.

Malik almost felt like he had shrank a thousand times... If only he had. "He told me to..."

Everyone shifted their glances toward Bakura for his answer.

"I never told you to do anything," Bakura said simply. "I merely stated that my mother used to kiss me on the cheek when I wasn't feeling well... then you just did it."

Now everyone was looking at Malik.

"Well, uh..."

Okay, Malik had been exposed. What was he going to do? It's not like he liked Bakura, but that's sure how it was starting to look.

"We're just friends," Bakura said, shrugging. "Haven't you ever kissed your friend before, Jou?"

Jounouchi's jaw dropped. "How dare ya drag me into this! Why I outta-"

"Calm down, Jou," Honda said, grasping onto his collar. "He's got a point."

"But," Jounouchi sniffled. "That kiss was an accident... And Yami did too!"

Malik blinked, and leaned towards Ryou. "What is he talking about?"

"Oh," Ryou said, "We had this get-together party here about two months ago and 'truth or dare' was involved. Jounouchi ended up getting dared to kiss Bakura and he was about to but he changed his mind, and well, he tripped and kissed him anyways. It was quite funny actually."

"And Yami?"

"Well..." Ryou said, tapping his chin. "I didn't know about that."

"Listen, let's just practice a song or two," Bakura suggested. "That is why you came here isn't it? I'm sure it wasn't for some lover's spat."

Jounouchi seemed to seethe. "Yeah, yeah..."

"Hey," Yuugi said, looking around. "Where's Yami?"

Everyone looked around, but sure enough, Yami was gone.

"He was just here a second ago," Ryou pointed out. "I didn't even see him leave..."

"He probably wanted a breath of fresh air," Bakura said. "Jou spreads enough hot air around here." Opening the front door, he said, "I'll go get him."

Yami sure enough was sitting down on the top step that led up to the front door. His head seemed to be lowered in contemplation.

"Hey Yami, are you coming back in?" Bakura asked, standing beside him.

Yami must not have expected him to be there because he jumped slightly at the voice. "Oh, Bakura... Sorry I left so suddenly."

"Come to think of it, why did you?"

"I just needed time to think."

"About what?"

"Just... the band. Things seem to be getting in our way lately... I just wasn't sure if we'd be able to keep this up."

Bakura raised a brow. "Keep what up? The band? Yami," Bakura said, kneeling and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tribute to the Doomed in never going to break up." He rolled his eyes. "Even the blonde idiot in there couldn't make us."

"Yes... I suppose..." he sighed. "Bakura... do you like Malik?"

"Hm?" The question caught him off guard. "Do I... NO! He's just some pesky brat. We're only friends." Standing up, he brushed off his pants. "Why everyone thinks otherwise, I'm not sure. Come on back in, we're going to practice."

"...All right."

--

While the band practiced, Ryou and the others listened and made lunch. When it was prepared and the others were putting their instruments away, Ryou pulled Malik away to talk to him.

"Hey, thanks for helping out with everything this afternoon."

Malik elevated a brow. "It's the afternoon already? Time sure does fly..."

"Especially when you're having fun...right?" Ryou asked with a smile.

Malik gave him a questioning stare. "...Right..."

"I'm really glad you and my brother are finally friends. It's good for him to have someone that he can be close with."

"But we're not-"

"So what did you talk to my brother about yesterday? You must've told him something interesting."

Malik's brow creased. "Why do you say that?"

"A couple of reasons. One, he couldn't keep his hands off of you this morning, and two, you were blushing earlier when he had his arm around you."

"I... was actually blushing?" Malik asked, trying to keep the embarrassment out of his voice.

How could Ryou be smiling like that at a time like this?!

"Yes, you were," Ryou said. "So, do you like him?"

"Only as a friend!" Malik defended.

Ryou blinked, surprised at Malik's earnestness. "Whoever suggested anything more?"

Ok... Wait, who had? Shoot! Darn Ryou for that trick, if it was one.

"Who likes who?" Jounouchi asked, strolling up beside them.

"It's nothing of importance," Ryou said, easily changing the subject. "Are you three ready to eat?"

"Are we ever!" Jounouchi almost yelled. "You know Ryou, without you, I think Bakura would starve. You're the foundation that keeps this brother-ship alive. You're the fundamental piece of the puzzle. You're the-"

"Jou," Bakura said sternly, walking up beside him. "If you wanted dessert, all you had to do was ask."

"See, that's another thing about you two... It's like you can read minds or something. It's truly remarkable. Oh yeah, can I have dessert?"

Ryou couldn't help but laugh. "Of course."

Everyone took their seat around the house, either on a floor, at a table, or on a couch and enjoyed the evening's victuals.

"Hey... What do you think that club did last night when they found out we had disappeared?" Jounouchi asked.

"Went out of business," Honda stated, a smirk upon his face.

"You know it!"

"Of course they went out of business," Bakura continued, calmly sitting at his seat. "One of their most popular food-digesters didn't show up."

Jounouchi bared his teeth. "Ok, what's with all the snide come-backs, huh? Somebody is sure in a happy mood today..."

Honda nodded. "Now that you mention it, he has been rather feisty this evening."

A leer spread across Jounouchi's face. "If I didn't know better... I'd say that someone's caught Bakura's eye."

Malik almost choked on his pie. Ok, how did they do a full circle back to this subject again?

Yuugi sighed. "You say that every time he wins the verbal war."

"No way, but I'm serious now!"

Yami raised a brow. "That's a first."

Bakura stood up, seemingly unaffected by anyone's words. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that someone's being retarded."

"Yami!" Jounouchi yelled. "Bakura's using mean words."

Yami smiled and shook his head. "Now, now children..."

"Oh yeah... I've got the feeling that there's someone in this house that Bakura likes."

"In this house?" Bakura repeated, skeptically. "If it's so, then it must be you, dear Jou. Why are you so interested in the truth all of a sudden?"

"The truth?" Jounouchi said, a wicked smile coming to his face. "So what exactly is the truth, Bakura? That is, if you'd rather do a dare instead..."

Bakura turned, a doubtful gaze upon his face. "I know you did not just start a truth or dare game..."

"You bet your butt! Now you have to tell me-"

"Hold on, I'm not going first. But, I will ask you, truth or dare?"

Jounouchi stuck his tongue out. "Truth."

"Just exactly how much did you enjoy that breathtaking kiss we shared last time we played this little game?"

Yami seemed stunned and Jounouchi... well, looked mortified.

"I can't believe you brought that up again!" he said.

Bakura shrugged. "Hey, you originally brought it up. Now, how about telling us all the truth?"

"...But that was when I had a crush on you! And it wasn't breathtaking! It was an accident. Jeez, but...I did kind of, er, like it." That last part was barely audible. "I'd ask you next, if it weren't for the dumb rules of 'you can't ask the person who asked you'. How about... ah," he grinned. "Good 'ol Malik!"

Bakura narrowed his gaze and Malik almost jumped.

"Um, but I'm not-"

"If you're in the room," Ryou said, "You're playing."

"Truth or dare?" Jounouchi asked.

Knowing dares could be much worse, he said. "Truth."

"Why'd you chase after Bakura last night?"

All right. The question seemed simple enough.

"Well," Malik began, "I was really worried about him, I mean, well, I wanted to make sure he was okay. Or, it was, I just wanted to reassure him or something like that."

That got really complicated really fast.

Bakura mumbled a thoughtful "hm" and Jounouchi smirked.

Thank goodness that was over. The game was tossed back and forth between everyone until strangely it came back to Jounouchi... Malik's worst nightmare.

But... the blonde didn't target Malik again, but rather Bakura.

"All right. I've been waiting for this one all day and it's here. Truth or dare, Bakura."

Bakura challenged his stare with a smirk. "Dare."

"Ah, a daredevil to the end," Jounouchi tapped his finger on his chin. "Ok... I've got it. I dare you... to kiss Malik. And on the lips. Don't try none of that cheek stuff."

Malik swallowed hard. He only prayed that his flush wasn't visible to everyone else. This could not be happening. It just couldn't. Damn the person who created the game.

Bakura raised a brow. "You want me to kiss Malik?"

"You bet."

Bakura shrugged and walked the few steps it took to get to Malik standing directly in front of him. Malik could feel his own heart beating like crazy, but why was it doing that? It's not like Malik felt any attachment to the ivory-haired teen. Maybe Bakura would change his mind and not carry out the dare.

"Unlike you, Jou," Bakura said. "I never back down from a dare."

Bakura placed a single finger under Malik's chin easing it upward, gazing momentarily into Malik's lilac eyes, then subtly he leaned down, so close that Malik could feel the slight tingle of his breath upon his lips, until the space between them was diminished, and all that was left was a kiss.

---TBC---

It's crazy how one simple kiss could turn things so crazily around. Just wait until next chapter when things really get complicated.

Thanks for reading! Please Review!

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