-Wild Aces-
"Gah!" Joey cried, flipping backwards in his chair, his boots still up in the air as he blinked his eyes. 'Was that really him?' Groaning, he quickly scrambled back to his feet and ran to the window to watch the familiar figure in the infirmary disappear. 'Damn it all, it was him!'
Joey stomped his foot angrily at the fact that he couldn't leave the post until Tristan relieved him, and as tempting as it was to run over there, he knew it was his sole responsibility to stay at the post, it also didn't help that the Bank manager's wife worked right at the shop next door. Growling at his ill luck he clenched his fists and went back to the desk.
"Lousy big mouthed woman," he snorted in disgust at the thought of the busy-body next door while sitting back down. Taking off his hat and laying it on the desk, he slouched over enough to rest his elbows on the surface while running his hands through his hair in frustration. "I guess I'll just have to wait till Tristan gets back," sighing his mind replayed seeing his buddies running out of the infirmary as Seto was walking in. "I wonder what's up with them?"
With Ryou and Malik…
"Ok, his grandpa has no idea where he is," Malik sighed,trying to catch his breath from the running that they had done.
"I know… Wait, I bet he's at the stables!" Ryou snapped his fingers in realization before taking off running toward the stables with Malik groaning behind him.
"Why the hell do we have to run all the time?"
It didn't take them long to reach the stables, and just as Ryou had thought, there was Yugi brushing down his horse with gentle strokes, but what surprised Malik and Ryou was the fact that their little companion was trembling.
"Yugi, what's wrong?"
Turning to look at his friends, Yugi sniffled while shaking his head. "Nothing's wrong, what makes you ask that?"
"The fact that you ran out earlier and that you're crying," Ryou pointed out while taking a seat on a bale of hay across from his companion. "Care to tell us what's bothering you?"
"Or would you rather us take a wild guess?" Malik asked, taking a seat beside Ryou.
Patting his horse's neck, Yugi offered the mare a few sugar cubes before turning back to his friends. "I guess I don't want Yami leaving," he sighed sadly before smiling lightly as his horse nuzzled his shoulder affectionately.
"I figured as much, I knew you had a crush on him," Malik chuckled before groaning as Ryou elbowed him in the ribs. "What was that for?"
"You're not helping," he growled, shaking his head and looking back at Yugi while offering him a smile. "Yugi, you should know that since Yami is wounded that he will have to stay around for a while."
"He has his friends here now Ryou, he doesn't need my help," Yugi shook his head while twirling his fingers in his horse's mane.
"I think he would rather have you taking care of him than his friends. I think he likes you as well," Malik tried while looking at Ryou, seeing if he was going to get hit again or not.
"I'm with Malik on this one," Ryou smiled.
"Besides, from what Marik tells me they all stay with Seto," crossing his arms, Malik leaned back against the stall walls. "He, Yami and Bakura would all be homeless with out him."
"Really, they must have been drifters then," Ryou shrugged lightly. "Handsome drifters at that."
Shaking his head, Yugi hid back a light chuckle. "They're outlaws."
"What?"
"I said they're outlaws," Yugistated, looking back at his friends to see their confused faces. "The moment I noticed the wrist guard on Bakura, it all sort of came together, and I'm betting that Marik and Seto have either a Club or Diamond design on their wrists with an 'A' in the center of it as well. They're all the outlaws, better known as the gang Wild Aces."
Blinking, Ryou shook his head, "Yugi, how can you be sure about that?"
"Think about the markings Ryou. All of them have one of the four symbols used in playing cards and they all have an 'A' in the center of it, making them all Aces," Yugi smiled lightly.
"Oh damn, then that means that they are going to be in serious trouble if the sheriff ever comes back," Malik whined still lightly confused by the entire situation.
"I don't think so, I have yet to see any wanted posters with their faces on it, they are only mentioned by gang name," Yugi grinned while going back to brushing his horse's coat. "I will give them credit they have been quite the 'sneaky varmints' as my grandpa says."
"I can't believe it, we have outlaws for friends," Ryou gasped lightly, happy at the thought of a little excitement.
"Just friends?" Malik teased before avoiding another elbowing.
"Lets keep this to ourselves for now, I don't think we should let them know that we know who they are," Yugi smiled while finishing up grooming and tossing the brush into a small pail. Putting his horse back in its stall, he motioned for the others to follow him. "C'mon I think we should go back and see what's going on." 'Besides I want to spend as much time with Yami as I can.'
Seto growled as he opened another door to reveal another empty room. "Damn, how many rooms does this place have?"
Mokuba chuckled,looking up at his brother to notice the not-amused frown. "Ever thought of listening for voices?" he offered,running down the hall and pointing to a door where he could hear familiar voices coming from behind it.
Growling at his sudden stupidity, Seto stalked over to his brother and promptly opened the door to see the familiar faces of all his companions. Stepping into the room, he looked over the figure of Yami propped up on the bed by a bunch of pillows. "Yami…"
"If you're getting ready to say that I look like Hell or shit, then let me save ya the trouble, Bakura and Marik have already beat ya to the punch."
"Ah, so you know the truth then," he smirked at the glare that was tossed in his direction. "It's good to know you're alive."
"I'm glad to know that you all care, and here I was thinking that the three of you wanted me dead," Yami smirked, remembering all the times when the three of his companions had threatened to kill him over his little harmless pranks.
Snorting, Bakura shook his head while crossing his arms and looking over at Seto. "It seems our dear ol' Peggy is actually Silver Mane."
Seto's eyes widened before looking down at his brother then back at his friends. "What?"
The others nodded their heads.
"It's true, Seto. I found it out later than I hoped and Keith shot me when I attacked Silver Mane," Yami sighed with a wince at feeling a twinge of pain coming from the bullet wound.
"That means that they were also the ones behind taking Mokuba earlier," Seto growled, clenching his fists before feeling his brother hugging one of his arms in an attempt to cool his temper.
"Yes, so we have to be very careful, since they do know where you live Seto," Yami added.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Yami thinks that we should stay around in town, at least until the doctor gives Yami the okay that he is fully healed," Bakura smirked. "Of course I think he just wants to stay so that he can get into the little runt's pants."
"I do not, you damn bastard!" Yami hissed, glaring daggers at the white haired outlaw.
"My, my, did our Little Yami-kins find himself a little lover?" Seto smirked ruefully, mentally flinching at the glare that was tossed his way.
"I ain't going to say anything, since I want to stay in town to get to know a certain little hellcat better," Marik smirked while glancingover at Bakura. "And I know ol' Whitey has a certain someone that he wants to get to know better too."
"Oh, the two of you have little lovers as well? How amusing," Seto drawled,leaning against the wall.
"I have no idea what the hell they'retalking about," Bakura snorted,turning away from the rest of them.
"Sure ya do! Ya know that little feller that looks like an innocent you," Marik chuckled.
"Marik, shut up!" Bakura growled, glaring at the other, who only continued to laugh.
Ignoring the other two, Seto turned his attention back to Yami. "So what's the plan?"
"Why do I always have to come up with the plans?"
"Because you are the leader of this gang, Mr. Ace of Spades," Seto pointed out, running his fingers across the wrist guard carrying the gold stitching of the Clubs design with an 'A' in the center of it.
"Hmph, for all the good it does me, you guys don't listen to a damn thing I say," Yami sighed.
"What was that, Yami? I wasn't listening," Marik smirked before receiving a pillow to the face, completely knocking him off his chair.
Biting his lip to not scream at the wave of pain, Yami took a deep breath and looked over at Bakura and Seto. "I'm not sure what to do yet; I don't know what Silver Mane is planning."
Groaning and rubbing his face, Marik got up off the floor and tossed the pillow back on the bed before taking his seat once again. "Maybe one of us could go and try to track him down."
"No, too risky. One of us alone doesn't really stand a chance, I have seen his hideout and he has us outnumbered," Yami groaned.
"Never stopped you before," Bakura smirked, looking back at Yami. "I remember when we first got started that you would barge right in with guns blazing, no matter how many there were."
"He has a point, Yami." Seto countered, watching Mokuba take a seat beside him on the floor.
Running a hand through his hair, Yami sighed lightly. "Maybe, but still yet I don't want to take any chances."
"How hard did you get hit in the head?" Marik asked, cocking an eyebrow. "What happened to our wild and reckless Yami? The one that would smile and then cause mass mayhem?"
Smirking at Marik, Yami chuckled lightly. "You are the one of mass mayhem; I'm not the one sleeping with sticks of dynamite under my pillow."
"You mean there is dynamite in my house?" Seto growled, looking over at Marik.
"No of course not, Seto," Marik smiled. "Ignore Yami, he's not thinking straight."
"For your sake, you better hope I don't find dynamite in my house or else you'll be sleeping with that horse of yours out in the barn!" Seto snapped, glaring suspiciously at the other.
Glaring over at Yami, Marik mentally sighed out of relief in worming his way out of Seto's war path. "Well if we ain't going to go after him, what are we going to do?"
"I think that with Yami laid up for a bit, that we should all lay low and then maybe keep an eye out for anything interesting that comes around, especially if it would end up being something that we could use as bait for Silver Mane," Seto suggested.
"Good idea, Seto," Yami nodded. "Then we can pay them back," he smiled while taking a look over at his twin six shooters lying on the bedside table.
"Is he smiling?" Marik smirked looking over at Bakura.
"Oh Lord," Bakura shook his head at seeing the smile as well as the devilish gleam flickering across those crimson eyes.
Shaking his head, Seto tapped his brother on the shoulder lightly. "Go and get my saddle bag."
Nodding, Mokuba quickly got up from the floor and left the room.
"What's in your bag?" Marik asked curiously.
"A gift that I'm sure Yami will need later on," He smirked as Yami tuned to look at him with a smile still gracing his face.
"Tell me you didn't bring his other set of guns?" Bakura groaned
Watching Seto nod, Marik sighed almost sadly. "Poor Silver Mane, he doesn't know what he's started. Yami with one pair of guns is bad enough, but with two, ya might as well say ya prayers."
"Silver Mane better find an undertaker," Bakura chuckled as Mokuba ran back into the room with the saddlebag and handing it to Seto.
Nodding his head, Seto opened the saddle bag to pull out a pair of six shooters that were attached to a black leather shoulder holster set and handing them to Yami. "Now all we need is for you to heal quickly."
"Not to worry, I'm sure he'll make a full recovery."
Hearing the new voice, everyone turned to find Ryou, Malik and Yugi standing at the doorway.
Looking them all over, Seto smirked before looking over at his friends to notice them smiling at the new arrivals. It was actually surprising to notice his companions giving the others little smiles of affection, especially since he had spent so much time with his friends and as far as they acted, well it was hard to believe they could even show emotion.
"Well that's good to know, it's not the same without Yami," Mokuba piped up with a smile.
"I think I'll step out and check around town, since it's getting a bit crowded in here," Seto smiled while making his way to the door. "Mokuba, you stay here."
"But, Seto..." Mokuba whined.
"Stay," Seto urged before walking out of the door and heading down the stairs.
"You heard ya brother, half-pint," Bakura chuckled as Mokuba stuck his tongue out at him. "Keep that up and I'm going to cut it off for you."
Eyes widening, Mokuba quickly pulled his tongue back in before taking a seat near the window.
"Bakura, don't be mean," Ryou scolded, glaring at Bakura, who grumbled.
Chuckling, Yami turned his attention back over to Yugi to see the other give hima heart-warming smile that the little one was only capable of. Smiling back at the little one, he motioned the other closer and patted the side of the bed gently.
Gulping slightly, Yugi hid his blush as he took a seat on the bedside to immediately have Yami ruffle his hair playfully. "Y-Yami, cut it out."
Stopping, but not removing his hand from Yugi's hair, Yami smiled. "Glad that ya decided to come back, I was missing your company."
Flushing, Yugi glared at the others as he heard them all chuckling. Ignoring them for the time being, he mentally sighed in bliss as Yami's fingers danced across his scalp. Not sure what to say he just smiled at the other lightly. 'I know that I just met you, Yami, but I already know that I can't handle the thought of you riding off in the sunset without me.'
"So what are y'all planning on doing?" Ryou asked curiously. "Malik told us that you all stay with Seto, so will y'all be leaving back home now that you know where Yami is, or what?"
"Actually, we plan on staying," Bakura smirked seeing Ryou's smile brighten.
"The only problem is that we have no idea where to stay?" Marik sighed lightly, putting the finishing touch on his pity act.
"Each one of you could stay with one of us," Malik smirked. "Marik can stay with me, Bakura can stay with Ryou and Yami can either stay here or stay with Yugi."
"Wouldn't Yami have to stay here?" Bakura asked curiously.
"Nah, Yugi is more than capable of changing bandages and catering to all of Yami's needs," Ryou smirked causing Yugi to blush and Yami to smile at all the little mental ideas crossing his thoughts.
"Well then it's settled," Marik smiled,getting off his seat and looking at the others. "I say we go back to the homestead and get a few things before coming back here." Looking back at Malik, he cocked his head, "Exactly where do you live anyways?"
"Above the Tailor shop," Malik smiled.
Nodding, Marik smiled before looking over to Bakura and Yami then waving. "I'm going to go and get my stuff."
"Leave the dynamite!" Yami yelled, causing Marik to turn back at him with a glare.
"What dynamite?" Malik asked looking at Marik curiously.
Shrugging, Marik pulled Malik along behind him, "I have no idea what he is going on about, I don't have any dynamite."
"What about you?" Bakura asked looking at Ryou curiously. "Where do you live?"
Smiling, Ryou blushed lightly. "Well I live outside of town."
"Yeah, Ryou lives out on his own in a nice white house right outside of town," Yugi smiled sadly while Yami, Bakura and Mokuba all looked at Ryou curiously.
"It's true. Ya see the place was left to me by my father since he died a few months ago." Ryou sighed sadly. "The Doc lets me work for him since he and my father were partners and everything so I earn enough to keep the place up."
"Hey sounds good to me," Bakura smiled before getting to his feet and walking toward the door. "C'mon Ryou, Half-pint, lets leave these two alone while I get ready to head off and go and get my stuff."
Nodding, Mokuba and Ryou both followed after Bakura, leaving Yugi and Yami to themselves.
Breaking the silence, Yugi smiled as he turned to look up at Yami, who was still idly running his fingers through his hair. "If you're curious, I live above the General store, but we have a spare room for ya."
"Sounds good to me, little one," Yami smiled, enjoying the feel of the other's silky soft hair.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Ask away," Yami smiled but frowned slightly as Yugi slowly pulled his hand away from his hair and got off the bed. Not liking the fact that the little one was pulling away from him, he looked up to see those amethyst eyes looking at him with unreadable emotions.
Sighing, Yugi shook his head before sitting down in a chair and looking at the guns sitting in Yami's lap. That worried him, because he didn't want Yami getting hurt again. Looking up at the other, he decided to let his secret out.
"I know you didn't, but were your friends the ones that robbed the town?"
Ok to say that he was shocked at the question would have been an understatement. Yami was completely blown away. "Why are you asking me?"
"Because I know who you are."
"Oh, and who am I?"
"You are and your friends are the gang Wild Aces," Yugi pointed out while looking at Yami.
'Beauty and brains, he really is a perfect little one,' Yami mused to himself before smiling lightly. "You got me there, Yugi." He sighed with a small smile. "However, the robbery of your town was a mistake that my friends were led into by an evil man."
"Was it the same man that shot you?" Yugi asked sadly.
Nodding, Yami sighed. "I'm sorry about that."
"Don't mention it Yami, it wasn't your fault anyways." Yugi smiled while shaking his head. "I won't hold the robbery against ya. Hell, it was about time this town had a bit of excitement anyways."
Smiling, Yami felt himself falling even more for the little one before him. "Well since ya know who were are, do you have any other questions?"
"Could ya tell me how y'all got started?" Yugi asked while looking at Yami pleadingly.
"As you wish, but it's a bit of long story," Yami smiled while trying to find a more comfortable position.
"I've got the time," Yugi smiled while Yami laughed lightly.
"All right then."
Joey nearly stumbled as he ran out of the sheriff's post, since Tristan had came to change shifts with him. 'I know I seen him going down this way. I bet he was heading back to the saloon again.' He hoped that was where the certain blue-eyed brunet had gone to anyways.
Quickly walking toward the aforementioned place, Joey thought back to when he had seen Ryou and Malik along with their look-a-likes ride off somewhere in the distance, of course he couldn't ask where they were going since at that time he had still been stuck at the post. Shaking off the thought, he continued to walk down the street, seeing the saloon coming into view.
Feeling his stomach twist up in knots of anxiety at possibly seeing the other, he growled at himself for the silly infatuation. Stomping his feet across the steps leading into the saloon, he impatiently slung the swinging saloon doors open and marched inside to notice everything was the usual and that there was no sign of his brunet rider.
Growling at his rotten fortune, he stormed up to the bar and ordered his usual while slumping down on one of the stools. Glancing around the saloon, he noticed Mai over in the corner with Anzu, both of them were busy trying to either flirt or in Mai's case offer some poker tips to one of the players.
Hearing the bartender place his drink in front of him, Joey grabbed the mug and took a swig before sitting the drink back down and trying to think of where the blue eyed rider could be. He was certain that he had seen the brunet heading in this direction and the saloon was the only thing of interest on this side of town, other than the bank and the train depot of course, but still it all didn't add up to where the other would be.
'Just my damn luck,' he growled, taking another drink to try and ease his frustration, but it wasn't working as well as he had hoped. Putting the drink back down on the counter, he turned to look around the left side of the room.
"Looking for someone, pup?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Joey quickly jerked around to see the object of his affection taking a stool beside him. Thinking back to what the other had called him, he glared lightly. "Pup!"
'Oops, let that one slip,' mentally chuckling at the glare, Seto shook it off. "Couldn't resist, you remind me of this dog I had a long time ago."
Joey felt a nerve twitch at the thought of being referred to as a dog. "Don't get used to calling me a pup."
"Oh then how about, Mutt?" Seto smirked, watching the blond glare at him.
"Grr…"
"Hmm, I guess Mutt it is," Seto smirked as the blond just ignored him while taking another drink. 'Who would have thought that I would be in the same situation as my friends. Damn Love at first sight!'
Glaring at the other from the corner of his eye, Joey mentally sighed while taking a drink. 'I don't like being called a dog, but I guess I don't mind being Seto's pup. Hey, wait a minute! What the hell am I thinking?' Turning to look at the other, sapphire locked onto honey, causing him to mentally melt. 'Who the hell am I kidding? I guess I am his pup after all… grr... stupid Love at first sight!'