Chapter 7
"Thanks so much for coming over today," Ryou said cheerfully as he ushered the last guest- Jounouchi- out of the house.
"Yeah, yeah," the blond said with a smirk. "We'll see ya later. Make sure to tell Bakura I said farewell. Maybe even give him a goodbye kiss for me." He faked a look of shock. "Oh yeah! That's Malik's job. Never mind."
"I heard that!" Bakura said, leaning up against the doorpost and sending him a glare. "But I'll remember to call you if I ever want a three-some." A leer tinted his lips. "I'm sure you'd appreciate that."
Jounouchi looked mortified. "I'll kick your ass next time," but Honda had dragged him in the car, stifling his complaints.
Waving goodbye, Bakura's smile left his face and he shut the door. Turning, he noticed quickly that Malik stood silently in the hall beside Ryou.
"Still not saying anything?" Bakura questioned him. When Malik remained silent, he said, "Fine, have it your way" in an uncaring manner, then jogged up the steps and down the hall.
Ok. Malik still couldn't believe what had happened just minutes earlier. Bakura had been dared to kiss him and he did! Following that was a round of applause and even mild shock that Bakura had gone through with it.
Malik had to have been the most shocked of all. Especially because of one VERY important fact:
He enjoyed the kiss.
What did that mean? Crap, he knew exactly what it meant. But maybe, just MAYBE it was some crazy result of hormonal imbalance. Yes, that had to be right. Bakura was good-looking, sure, he'd give him that, but looks were as far as it went.
"-so that's why I didn't have any napkins ready for us," Ryou finished. "Pretty stupid of me, huh?"
Malik turned quickly toward his friend. "What?" He broke out into a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."
Ryou blinked then a grin graced his features. "It wasn't anything important. So anyways, it seems like you're finally fitting in with our group now. Don't you think?"
Malik shrugged. "Sure, I guess. Jounouchi doesn't seem to like me though..."
Ryou in response laughed. "Are you kidding me? Jou thinks you're an awesome person. He only picks on the people he likes."
"That's a great way to show someone you care," he said, one eyebrow raised.
"Different people show emotions differently, know what I mean?"
Malik could've sworn there was the slightest trace of mirth in his eyes.
"Are you making a reference to me?"
"Heavens no," Ryou stated.
Malik looked in the direction of Bakura's room. "Then to...-"
"You really should go get ready for bed," Ryou suggested. "Bakura likes to take long showers sometimes so he'll get mad if you turn the sink water on while he's in there."
Malik gave Ryou a skeptical look then muttered a quiet "Ok" and went up the stairs and toward Bakura's room.
How strange. Ryou almost acted as though he were planning something involving him and Bakura... But how absurd of an idea would that have been?
Walking in the room, he was surprised to find Bakura hanging up his clothes as he was dressed only in a pair of black boxers.
"Oh," Malik said suddenly, turning around so he wasn't facing him. "I'm sorry."
Bakura casually glanced at him over his shoulder. "For what? We're both guys. We both have the same parts... unless you're missing some."
Malik turned around quickly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You remind me of a pesky girl sometimes." Closing the closet door, he sat down on his bed focusing an unreadable gaze on the blonde. "Plus you suck at kissing."
Malik narrowed his gaze. "Last time I checked, I wasn't supposed to try. You were dared, not me."
"Sure... blame it on that. It still doesn't make up for the fact that you're a lousy smoocher."
Malik grabbed his toothbrush and stomped out of the room walking right back down the steps to Ryou.
"Can I help you?" Ryou asked, surprised to see him returning so quickly.
"Yeah. Tie your brother up and duck tape his mouth. I'm brushing my teeth down here."
With that said, he disappeared around a corner and into the kitchen.
A few moments later, Bakura appeared at the top of the steps.
"Did Malik pass through there?" he asked.
Ryou nodded. "Yeah, for some reason he's brushing his teeth in the kitchen..." He flashed his brother a warning glance.
"Hey, don't look at me. He's the one who decided to go all sensitive on me. Did he say anything to you?"
Shrugging, Ryou said "He mentioned something about tying you up and bringing duck tape into the whole mess."
"I like his thinking," Bakura said, smiling. He couldn't even help but laugh. "All right. When he's done, tell him I said to get his butt back upstairs and that the duck tape's in one of the kitchen drawers. I've got the rope." Winking, he disappeared back down the hall.
Malik peeked out of the kitchen beside Ryou. "I love how he thinks this is comical."
Ryou had to cover his mouth from laughing again. "Anyone would. It's pretty funny. He wants you to get your butt back upstairs. If anything, you're the one who should be taking things lightly. Bakura's actually made peace with you. Becoming his friend is like achieving the impossible." Patting his on the back, he said, "Now you shouldn't be afraid to do anything else."
Malik wasn't very sure what he meant by that, but taking his words to heart, he went back to Bakura's room. Sure enough, he was showering so Malik was alone in the quiet room. His attention was drawn to a photo that sat near his bed. Walking closer, he noticed that Yami, Jounouchi and Bakura were in it. Jounouchi was busy goofing off, Yami was looking strangely at Bakura, and Bakura was rubbing his temples, obviously either annoyed or embarrassed at what Jounouchi was doing.
"That's strange," Malik said, looking closer at the picture. Yami's expression was the hardest to read. Was he feeling sympathy for what Bakura was feeling? Or had he maybe been upset with him that day?
He went to pick up the picture and accidentally knocked it off the desk sending it fluttering to the floor where it landed right in Bakura's guitar case. The guitar itself sat on the bed so Bakura had either been practicing with it or was planning to.
Picking the picture up, he then noticed the note that had been written in sharpy on the soft red velvet of the case's interior.
Please accept this as a modest gift for always being there for us and singing your heart out.
Yami
And under that it read-
We got this 'cuz you rule! But Yami paid for most of it... Heh, keep singing and playing! You're da man!
Jou
"Hm..." Malik mused. 'Yami sure does care a lot about Bakura...' But that was an insane thought. It was probably just because they were such good friends and all. Nothing more... Still, this wasn't the first time Malik had had similar doubts...
The phone rang shaking Malik from his thoughts but he didn't get to it in time causing the answering machine to catch it.
"Hey..." a voice said, "This is Yami. Listen, I really need to talk to you, Bakura. It's important. Please call me when you get the chance. Bye."
And then he hung up.
Photo. Guitar case. Phone Message.
Three clues that pointed to one possible assumption:
Yami liked Bakura.
'Maybe I'll go talk to him tomorrow," Malik said to himself. "Rolling back the covers and getting into bed he said, "Wouldn't hurt to try."
The next morning came quickly and Malik was the first up. Bakura still slept quietly in the nearby bed, the covers drawn over his face. Taking this chance, he changed and tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs.
Ryou must have been asleep too because he wasn't down stairs and his bedroom door was closed. That was good; Malik didn't want to have to explain why he was going to Yami's place.
Opening the front door and shutting it silently, he proceeded to walk to the game shop.
"Please come in," Yami said after he had opened the door, still somewhat surprised to see Malik there.
"Thanks," Malik said as genially as he could. The LAST thing he wanted was to have Yami upset with him.
"Yuugi's still sleeping," Yami pointed out. "We were up late last night watching a movie."
Malik wanted to make some sarcastic comment like "I'm sure you didn't watch it" but he let it slip. He wasn't exactly that good of a friend to Yami. Actually, Yami was the person he knew least.
"So what do you need?" Yami asked, sitting down at a table and signaling Malik to do the same.
Malik smiled thankfully and sat, folding his hands in his lap. "Ok... this might sound weird... but I was just wondering how you were doing?"
Yami blinked and raised a brow. "I'm fine... Why?"
"Well it's just that, I heard the message you left for Bakura yesterday and you sounded really troubled about something. I just wanted to know if maybe... you wanted to talk about it?"
Yeah. Right. Like Yami would want to talk to him about it...
Yami sat back crossing one leg over another and focusing a contemplative gaze on the blonde. "Oh... that..."
Yami sat in silence for a little bit and Malik thought he might never speak, but then, he finally stood, crossing his arms, and spoke.
"Well..." he spoke softly, "I've been trying to figure out what kind of person you are. You see to be harmless and polite, and barely fastidious. You're attractive and not egotistical, and you're even easy to like." He paused before continuing. "I suppose I even consider us friends."
Malik frowned. "But?"
Yami met his gaze, then broke it. "But... I can't help but have a slight aversion to you at the same time. I've known Bakura for a long time, longer than most... but he's never looked at me... the way he looks at you."
Malik's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, but the door opened and Yuugi walked in still wearing his pajamas and rubbing his eyes.
"Morning Yami," he said tiredly. "And... Malik," he said, slightly surprised. "I didn't know you were coming over. Otherwise, I would've been up and ready to greet you. Sorry," he smiled sheepishly.
"Um," Malik smiled awkwardly, "Don't worry about it. I just came to say hello..."
There was a knock at the front door and then it was opened, the telltale jingling slightly surprising everyone.
"I'm here," Bakura said, tossing his keys on the counter. "You said you needed to talk Yami..." he paused. "Malik... so this is where you were."
"I was just dropping by," Malik said, standing from his seat.
Jounouchi rushed into the room at this time, calming his frazzled hair. "I'm here. So what gives?"
"I'll go change and leave you guys alone to talk," said Yuugi, exiting the room and closing the door behind him.
Malik sighed. "I'd better go as well."
"Go sit in the car," Bakura stated. "I'll be out in a moment."
Malik nodded and left, doing as he had been told. Outside, the air had turned slightly nippy and a few leaves rustled at his feet. Opening the passenger door and getting in, he mused about what Yami had told him.
Yami actually did LIKE Bakura. He had been right all along and who knew what he was in there telling Bakura at this very moment.
He's never looked at me... the way he looks at youThis was just great. Ok, that was a lie. This sucked, for lack of a better word. Yami now had this insane assumption that Bakura liked him.
If he did, that would be... Actually it wouldn't be that bad.
NO! WHY was he now thinking like that?
'Hormones,' he thought to himself. 'Just keep thinking hormones.'
He was shaken from his thoughts as Bakura got back into the car, stabbing the key into the ignition.
Okay... what was his problem?
"So... did everything go all right?" Malik questioned.
Bakura rubbed his forehead and heavily sighed. "It went fine."
"Oh..." Malik had this inkling that he might be lying.
"Did you know that-" Bakura began, but stopped. "Well, never mind," he quickly decided. "Because if I knew-"he paused. "Well... it's not like I did."
"Come again?" Malik asked, slightly confused.
Bakura turned focusing a concentrated stare on Malik. They were close too, so Bakura would only have to lean down slightly and their lips would meet.
"He's gotta be wrong," Bakura spoke once again.
"Wrong about what?" Malik asked.
Without any warning at all, Bakura leaned down pressing his lips softly on his. Moments later he drew back facing a now VERY confused Malik.
"He had to be wrong," Bakura murmured, now not as sure as before.
"You can't just go around kissing people for no reason!" Malik stated angrily, a light blush on his face.
Bakura broke out of his pause and turned, starting the car. "You do," he said regards to the kiss on the cheek.
"For heaven's sake, Bakura. I didn't mean anything by it."
"Well it meant something to me," he stated, focusing a glare on Malik.
"What really happened in there?" Malik asked facing forward and ignoring that last comment. Bakura really liked to joke.
Bakura waited a moment before answering, then said finally, "Tribute to the Doomed is breaking up."
---TBC---
Surprised? Well, yes. I'm guesstimating that there are only about two chapters left. We're approaching the end.
In the next chapter, Malik acts on impulse and makes a move he might soon regret... or not.
Thanks for reading, please review.
AmethystRoze