-Wild Aces-

Sitting out on the porch, Seto sighed while watching the pacing figure of Bakura. Rolling his eyes, he shook his head while crossing his arms. "You're going to pace a hole in the porch if ya keep this up."

"Hmph."

"I hope you know that if that happens, that you'll be the one fixing it."

Bakura snorted, but other than that continued to ignore the brunet as he paced back and forth. He hated to admit it, but he was getting worried about their red-eyed companion, especially since he hadn't returned yet and there was no sign of him.

"Dammit, Bakura! Stop pacing!" Marik shouted as he walked out on the porch. "The clicking of your spurs is giving me a headache!"

Coming to a halt, Bakura glared at the blond before walking over and slumping down on an old rocking chair.

"You know, you're not the only one worried about him," Seto sighed while leaning against the porch railing.

"Yeah, even though Yami is a show-off and a pain in the ass at times… I'm still a bit worried about him," Marik stated while leaning against the wall of the house.

"Something isn't adding all up here. Before Yami disappeared he told me that he didn't really trust our dear Peggy and that Ass friend of his," Bakura pointed out while rocking lightly in the chair.

"I see," Seto rubbed his chin lightly while looking in the window to see Mokuba sitting at the table continuing to eat his breakfast. "So you think they might have something to do with his disappearance?"

Nodding, Bakura got off the rocker and took a stance between Seto and Marik. "That I do. They were the last ones to see him and they told us that he went scouting." Bakura shook his head lightly. "I didn't think about it till this morning, but y'all and I both know that Yami never scouts or plans ahead. He's the type that does everythingon a stupid whim."

"True, him and that damn smile of his," Marik shivered lightly. "Crazy ass, I'm surprised he hasn't killed himself, pulling off one of those stupid stunts of his."

"I think you're getting off track here, Marik. But I agree with Bakura, maybe we should keep our eyes open for anything suspicious."

"You two do that," Bakura smiled while slipping on his duster and putting on his hat before walking off the porch.

"Where are you going?" Marik asked curiously while holding back a yawn, since Bakura's pacing had woken him up.

"Back to Vander, I need a drink and then I'm going to go and search for Yami," Bakura waved while heading off to the barn.

Shaking his head, Marik looked back inside to notice Mokuba getting ready to snatch the plate left out for him. "Don't you dare, you little Hooligan!" he shouted before running in the house, just as Mokuba snatched a biscuit.

Hearing his brother scream and Marik stomping after him, Seto walked back inside but stopped as he noticed Bakura riding past the house. Waving to the other, and wishing him some luck in finding their friend, he entered the house to have Mokuba plow right into him.

"Save me, Seto!"

"There, a nice new bandage," Ryou smiled replacing the bandage on the still unconscious rider's shoulder. "At least the wound on his temple looks a bit better this morning."

Yugi sighed in relief while sagging in his chair. "Now if he would just wake up," he smiled lightly, brushing some of his bangs away from his face.

"Yeah, I know. Malik should be bringing back this guy's shirt and duster later on today, since he took it last night to fix."

"That's good," Yugi smiled, looking over at the rider's gun belt that was sitting on the nightstand. Running his fingers against a handle of one of the twin six shooters, he turned to look back at Ryou to notice him fixing up his vest. "Are you going somewhere?"

Ryou sighed while using his hands to smooth out his vest then hair. "Yup, I promised the Doc that I would deliver some more medication… the only problem is that one of the deliveries is at… Miss Abby's."

Not able to contain himself, Yugi burst out into a fit of giggles. "You have to go to the whorehouse? Oh poor you, I know they are even worse than Miss Mai and Anzu."

"I know, that is why I'm just going to give the medicine to one of the ladies that stand out on the porch all the time, and then I'm going to run before they get their claws on me," Ryou winked playfully before looking back over to the rider then back to Yugi. "Does your grandpa mind that you'll be here instead of helping him out at the General store?"

Shaking his head, Yugi smiled lightly. "He doesn't mind, I told him about everything last night and he said that it was all right. I just hope there's no deliveries that need to be made, because I don't want grandpa trying to outdo himself with trying to lug around any heavy packages."

"Ah, I see. Well I guess you can handle things while I'm out can't you? I'll try to be back as soon as I can," seeing his friend nod, Ryou waved before walking out of the room and heading down the stairs, leaving Yugi and the prone stranger alone.

Meanwhile…

Bakura smirked lightly as he rode into Vander once again, taking in the sight of what yesterday's stampede had caused. It wasn't that bad, and besides he had the worst experience. Growling at the memory of the steer dragging him, he shook his head before looking around the town again and gasped at what he saw tied to a post outside of the infirmary.

There tied to the post, getting a drink from the water troth, was none other than Phantom. Making his way closer to the other horse, Bakura quickly dismounted his own horse and tied it to a post across from the other horse. "Phanny?" he asked walking toward the black horse to receive a snort and a shake of the head.

"Where's Yami?" he asked, then sweat-dropped as he came to realize that he was speaking to ahorse. Sure, Yami told them all that Phantom was the smartest stallion that he had ever met, but he was still a horse none the less. Hearing a whinny and a snort, Bakura was surprised as the horse flicked its head, motioning toward the infirmary behind him. 'Ok, this horse is just as creepy as Yami and his damn devil-may-care smirk.'

Nodding at the horse, he decided that he would check out the infirmary later, after he had his drink, besides it didn't look as if the Doc was in at the moment and the sheriff's post was just across the street.Sighing, Bakura decided to leave his horse there, as he headed down the street straight toward the saloon.

Rounding the corner, he wasn't ready for a figure to run right into him. Staggering back a bit, he groaned lightly.

"Oh, sorry, really, I wasn't watching where I was going!"

Looking down, Bakura blinked as he took in a head of downy white hair that looked much tamer than his ownoutlandish spikes. Gulping down his shock, he offered a hand out to the young man on the ground, "No harm done, here let me give ya hand."

Ryou sighed in relief at not having the guy mad at him, looking upto see who he hadran into, his eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. There before himwas the white-haired cowboy from yesterday, the one that made him weak in the knees with just a look from those fierce russet brown eyes.

Bakura took in a mental gasp as the other looked up at him with the most alluring doe brown eyes that he had ever seen. Helping the younger to his feet, he smiled as he watched the other dust the dirt vigorously away from his pants before looking back up at him with a small smile.

"I'm really sorry about that."

"Hey, like I said, no harm done." Bakura smirked, seeing the other looking him over with a faint blush dusting across his cheeks at being caught. Offering his hand back out to young one he decided to introduce himself, "The name's Bakura."

Taking his hand, Ryou smiled lightly and nodded. "I'm R-Ryou," he sighed, hating the fact that he had stuttered at his own name.

"Nice to meet you then, Ryou."

"Likewise," Ryou smiled, feeling a bit more comfortable with the situation of being with this rugged cowboy. Looking him over once again, his brown eyes locked onto a familiar black leather wrist guard on Bakura's right arm. Yugi had been right after all, the black leather guard was identical to the rider's from yesterday, but instead of having gold stitching and the Spade design. Bakura's wrist guard was stitched in silver stitching and it had a design of a Heart with an 'A' in the center of it with the same stitching.

"What is it, Ryou?" Bakura asked, seeing Ryou staring at his wrist guard carefully.

"It's you're wrist guard," Ryou mumbled, looking back up to Bakura's face with a smile.

Looking at the wrist guard, Bakura cocked his eyebrow curiously, "What about it?"

"Um, well…"

"Ryou, there you are! I've been looking for you all over!"

Hearing the feminine voice, both Ryou and Bakura turned to see a scantily dressed young woman sauntering over to them as quickly as her high heels and dress would allow her.

"Oh?" Ryou paled lightly at the sight of the girl. She was one of woman at the whorehouse.

"Miss Abby wanted me to give you this," the girl smiled, twirling a slim finger in strand of her dark auburn locks while holding out a package to the younger boy.

Hesitantly taking the package, Ryou offered the girl a forced smile. "Is it for the doctor?"

The girl nodded before winking at the boy playfully. "You know Ryou, you and your friends could come and see all us girls anytime y'all wanted."

"Eh, heh, that's all right, we're all really busy," Ryou sighed, hoping the girl would hurry and leave.

"All that work and no play, it's not very healthy, darlin'" the girlpurred, causing Ryou to become even more flustered.

Bakura smirked and had to fight off the need to chuckle at the poor boy. Shaking his head, he chuckled lightly as he watched the girl give Ryou one last wink before disappearing behind one of the buildings. "I think you need a drink."

"I don't drink," Ryou sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"You sound a lot like Seto, he doesn't drink either," Bakura sighed, shaking his head while walking over to Ryou and placing an arm around his shoulder. He almost laughed at feeling the muscles immediately tense and seeing the flushed expression on the other's face. Heading off toward the saloon once again, he offered the other a wan smile. "You can keep me company while I drink enough for both of us."

The sound of humming as well as the feel of something cool dabbing at his forehead was slowly bringing him back to the land of the awake and living. Trying to open his eyes was a bit harder than he thought it would be, since the gentle hummingalmost lulled him right back to dream land.

Pooling enough of his strength together, Yami forced his eyes open and immediately groaned at the blurred vision. Blinking his eyes slowly, his vision soon cleared, giving him the chance to look into the wide innocent amethyst eyes. Gulping the lump that had lodged up in his throat, he continued to stare up in awe at the young teen before him.

'Merciful heavens, his eyes are absolutely beautiful. They're so red and...' Yugi mused while looking down at the figure while offering him a warm smile. "You decided to wake up, eh?"

Not trusting his voice at the moment, Yami nodded at the question while enjoying the melodic voice of the other. He was still surprised that they both resembled one another, but the one before him held something that he could never possess… pure innocence.

"My name's Yugi by the way," Yugi continued to smile, not feeling the least bit unnerved by the other staring at him with keen awe and perhaps interest. It was only fair, since he hadgawked and had his moment while the other was sleeping, but now that he got to see the other's liquid ruby eyes, well he just continue to secretly drool over this stranger.

Feeling a bit more confident with himself, Yami cleared his throat before trying to sit up, which was a really bad idea as a sharp pain ripped up his left shoulder, forcing him to go back down, but his little double was immediately at his side… heh, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to do after all, even though it hurt like hell.

"I don't suggest trying that again," Yugi warned with a light smile.

"Don't worry, I don't plan on it," Yami winced lightly as he ran a hand over the bandaged wound before looking back at Yugi. "The name's Yami."

Yugi's smile brightened at finding out his stranger's name, as well as getting to hear the stranger's voice, which to say the least in his opinion, was a voice that he could get lost and addicted too. "Nice to meet you, Yami."

Yami smiled, he liked the way his name rolled right off Yugi's tongue, but as much as he would love to just lay there in bed and keep Yugi all to himself, he had to deal with his friends and those bastards. Looking down at himself, he mentally flushed, noticing that he was missing his shirt as well as his guns, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed his guns on the table.

"If you're wondering about your shirt, my friend took it a long with your duster to patch them up for you," Yugi piped in, catching Yami looking down at himself curiously before looking around for his missing garments. "I found you yesterday… or maybe I should say that your horse caught my attention."

Yami nodded and smiled. "Leave it to Phantom, that horse has more sense than most people I know," he smirked lightly while mentally comparing his horse to the likes of Bakura and Marik.

Yugi chuckled lightly before getting up from his seat and looking out the window to notice Joey sitting out on the porch of the sheriff's office, as well as many of the towns folk walking down the streets. "So do you know who shot you?"

Caught off guard by the question, Yami sighed before nodding lightly, even though Yugi had his back turned to him. "That I do, and when I find them again I plan on giving them something to remember me by as well."

Nodding his head lightly, Yugi continued to look out the window, seeing if he could spot one of his friends. Blinking his eyes, he looked back down at the post to notice the black horse or Phantom as he had learned as well as a familiar looking black and white paint tied across him. "Hmm... I wonder if those other riders are here again."

"What other riders?" Yami asked curiously as he looked over to Yugi, mentally taking in the view of his backside before turning his head before hegot caught.

"Yesterday there was a group of riders that rode into town. One of the riders was riding a black and white paint, and well it looks like that same horse is tied to the post outside," Yugi replied, turning to look at Yami while leaning against the wall.

'Sounds like Bakura's horse,' Yami mused before looking back at Yugi. "Um... exactly where am I anyways?"

"Oh, you're in Vander, sorry that I didn't mention that," Yugi grinned sheepishly while rubbing his arm out of a nervous habit.

'I'll be damned, that crazy horse actually brought me into the town those Asses wanted to rob!' Yami shook his head as he looked back at Yugi, to find him staring out the window once again. "Did anything else happen here yesterday, besides me showing up?"

"Yeah from what I've heard, apparently we were robbed, but I wasn't here at the time. Joey told me that there was also this stampede that was probably used as a distraction while someone robbed the bank," Yugi replied,running a hand through his hair idly while giving off a dry chuckle. "Figures that something exciting would happen in this mundane town, and I would miss it!"

"Oh, and what are you wanting? An adventure?" Yami asked,mentally taking in all that had been said. The stampede and distraction was signature calling sign of a heist done by he and his gang. They thrived on distractions, since they would rather not be seen in what they do, they would have more freedom and Seto wouldn't have to worry about Mokuba getting drug into too much trouble.

"I would give anything to have an adventure or something. All I get to look forward to is hanging out with my friends, or help my grandpa at the General store with deliveries," Yugi sighed sadly before offering Yami a smile as he looked over at him to lock amethyst with warm crimson. "You've been sort of my first hintat havingan adventure."

Feeling his heart swell a bit at having brought Yugi some form of excitement, Yami smiled and chuckled lightly. "Glad that I could be of some service."

Yugi smiled and chuckled, he was feeling warm and tingly inside from Yami's laughter, it was like his voice, rich and warm, something you wanted to get wrapped up in.

"Yugi! I'm back and I have everything fixed up!"

Yami winced as he was a bit startled by the new voice before the door was promptly swung open to reveal a tan youth with long platinum blond hair and lilac eyes. He would have sworn it was Marik if it wasn't for the slight height difference and missing the untamable spikes.

"Great Malik, as you can see our stranger has woken up and his name is Yami," Yugi smiled while taking the patched up garments from his friend's arms and laying them across Yami's guns.

"Oh, well then, hello there, Yami.How do you feel?" Malik asked while looking over the figure on the bed to watch him roll his crimson eyes.

"You be shot, hit in the head, fall unconscious then wake up and tell me how you feel," Yami grumbled, giving Malik a mocking glare.

"My, a bit touchy ain't he?" Malik teased with a smirk as he nudged Yugi lightly. "Sure you can handle this?"

"MALIK!" Yugi hissed out under his breath, while shoving his friend. "If you're just going to tease why don't you go the saloon and go tease Miss Mai or something."

"Now, Yugi, c'mon don't hurt my feelings. Besides the saloon isn't fun unless I can drag you and Ryou in there with me."

Shaking his head, Yugi sighed while taking his seat beside the bed and giving Yami asmall smile. "Then go find Ryou, since as you can see, I am busy."

"Oh yes, I can see that," Malik teased while crossing his arms and looking at the two before him. "I can see that you are busy drooling over you're…"

He never got to finish as with untold strength, Yugi had managed to all but shove him out the door and down the stairs.

"Your friend reminds me of one of my own friends," Yami chuckled as Yugi glared at the closed door, almost daring Malik to walk back through it. "I think you scared him off, you keep glaring at the door and it may burn a hole in it."

Snapping out of his 'must-glare-at-the-door' trance, Yugi looked back over at Yami and sighed. "Ignore whatever Malik says, he just likes to tease."

"Well damn, and here I was hoping that I had the effect on you after all," Yami smirked and chuckled as he watched a blush paint its way across Yugi's creamy complexion. 'Perfect little angel.'

Seto growled while pulling at his hair in frustration. It had been over 3 hours and Bakura hadn't returned, that wasn't what was driving him upthe wall though, what was really getting to him was that about an hour ago, Marik had taken up Bakura's earlier ritual… pacing back and forth across the porch.

"Would you please STOP PACING!" he snapped glaring angrily at the blond, who like Bakura also decided to ignore him and continue to pace. Rubbing his temples in trying to relieve the pounding of his skull, he slumped back in one of the rocking chairs.

Coming to a halt, Marik shook his head before looking over at his friend. "Did you say something, Seto?" he asked noticing the frazzled looks of his friend.

Glaring at the blond, Seto growled. "You're lucky I don't have a gun on me right now, or I wouldshot you!"

"Temper, temper, what would Mokuba think of you killing his favorite Uncle Marik?" Marik asked with a smirk while wagging his finger teasingly in front of Seto's face.

"I'm sure he would get over it. He would be glad that there would be more food for him on the table," Seto smirked while slapping Marik's finger out of his face.

Shaking his head, Marik sighed before leaning against the porch railing. "I wonder what is taking Whitey so long?"

"You know, if you keep calling him that, he's going to kill you," Seto drawled out, while rocking back and forth in the rocker, which proved to loosen up his tense nerves. "Besides, if I know Bakura, I'm sure that he's currently drinking like there'sno tomorrow or playing a game of poker."

"Exactly, and I ain't there to aggravate the hell out of him," Marik sighed, crossing his arms lightly.

"You could always go off and join him," Seto suggested while looking up at the other. He along with Marik and Mokuba were the only ones left at the homestead. Pegasus and Keith had volunteered a few minutes after Bakura left to go and look for Yami, even thoughhe figured they were up to something entirely different.

"Hmm, ya know, I think you're absolutely right," Marik grinned widely before running into the house to retrieve his hat and duster before heading off the porch. "Let's just hope he didn't drink them out of business!"

Watching the other run off to the barn, Seto counted down the moments before Marik rode off toward the town. Waiting for Marik to disappear over the horizon, he sighed and slumped against his seat in total relaxation. It was rare for it be quiet around this place, especially with Bakura and Marik around, since they both loved to make a ruckus and grate on his nerves.

So, needless to say, he lived for the moments when all was nice and…

"SETO!"

…Quiet.