-Wild Aces-

"All right now you can tell me," Yugi smiled, making himself comfortable on Yami's new bed.

It was nearly dusk now, and Yami had put off telling him the story until his friends had returned, but when they did return they had decided to go ahead and move Yami to the General store, that was after the Doctor had given them the okay as well.

Shaking his head, Yami chuckled. "You're determined to hear about us, ain't ya?"

"Yup, so tell me! I think you have stalled long enough," Yugi sighed while folding his hands into his lap.

"You're not going to give up about this, are you?" Yami smirked playfully while leaning back against the stacked up pillows behind him.

"I've been known to be very stubborn," Yugi smiled, watching Yami get into a more comfortable position. "Then again, if I have to, I'll use my secret weapon."

"Oh, and what would that be?"

"My 'puppy-dog-pout'," Yugi grinned then flushed lightly at admitting such an embarrassing tidbit that his grandpa as well as most of the town had deemed as Yugi's secret weapon in getting whatever he wanted.

Yami felt his insides twist at the mental image of those shining amethyst jewels of innocence pulled into a pout or pleading look. Right then and there, he knew for a fact that he would fall victim under that look, instantly caving in and melting to give the youth whatever he desired. "Playing dirty, ain't we little one?"

An impish grin, "It's a talent."

"Indeed, I bet it's a productive one at that too," Yami chuckled, shifting against the pillows. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat, "As for the story, well it started about 4 years ago in a town known as Gulch Springs, Bakura and I had grown up together and were already pretty reckless…"

( Story )

"I'll be damned, Yami," Bakura snapped, eyeing the ragged town they were approaching with definite distaste. "You sure as Hell know how to pick a town, don't ya?"

Smirking from the top of his horse, Yami chuckled. "I thought you'd feel right at home in this town, with that buzzard perched on the sign and the bleached cattle skull under it."

Growling at his companion, Bakura shook his head. "Why are we here anyways? I thought we were heading to Binker Town."

Eyeing the town, Yami shook his head while patting the loaded saddlebags attached to his saddle. "I figured we could stop by here, besides if we would've went to Binker, we might've run into that posse that's been sent out."

Getting the other's point, Bakura smirked. "And here I was thinking that ya just made us stop here so that you could play poker."

"Um, and of course you stopping for a drink," Yami smirked as the two of them pulled their horses to a stop at the small saloon in the middle of town.

Inside the saloon, however gave the town a whole new outlook. Yami and Bakura both blinked and flinched at recognizing a few of the patrons inside the cramped place. Shuffling closer to his companion, Bakura pulled the brim of his hat down to hide his eyes.

"This place is full of outlaws."

"Then you should definitely feel right at home," Yami smirked, keeping his cool demeanor while sauntering up to the bar with Bakura mumbling curses under his breath.

"Dammit, that's not what I mean," Bakura hissed, taking a stool and sitting beside his companion. "These are the cruel and ruthless, and over there in the corner is the Daniel Brothers, ya know the ones that took a shot at you after we robbed them."

Idly nodding his head, Yami surveyed the saloon while casting a glance over to the corner where he noticed the aforementioned gang that he and Bakura had crossed paths with. "I remember that, I bet they thought they killed me off with that shot." Getting his drink, he took a swig, "Heh, that James couldn't shoot a can in front of him."

"Bah, more like good thing you are a fancy ass trick rider, with a horse that reads you like a damn book," Bakura drawled, picking up his shot glass and taking a drink. Shaking his head, he turned his head and coughed lightly, faint traces of tears sliding down his cheeks.

"What's the matter with you?"

"This stuff is enough to knock your spurs off," Bakura rasped, catching the attention of the bartender.

"Sure as hell will give ya kick in your step," the tender laughed. "That there is some Moonshine that got delivered here a few days ago by mistake, but I figured I would make a profit out of it."

Shaking his head, Bakura looked over his glass again and sighed. "How about just giving me a few shots of whiskey, hold on the moonshine though."

"And here I thought you could handle your liquor," Yami chuckled, earning a glare from his companion.

"Hot damn, you won again Marik!"

Hearing the feminine voice, Bakura and Yami both turned to see one of the saloon girls leaning over the shoulders of a young male with spiky corn silk hair. Watching the other carefully, they both heard the others around the table curse at having lost another round of poker.

"Seems like he's a gambler," Bakura smirked as the bartender gave him the requested whiskey.

"He could be a player," Yami countered, looking over at his friend while idly brushing his fingers across the black wrist guard decorated with gold stitching of a Spade design with an 'A' in the middle of it.

Catching the movement, Bakura shook his head. He too had a guard like his companion but his had silver stitching of a Heart with an 'A' in the center. Yami's guard had been the last gift his father had given him before his death, leaving Yami orphaned and alone. Bakura on the other hand had grown up with Yami but had challenged him in the saloon, to see if he was good as he had boasted himself to be, he had found out that it was true since Yami had been the victor of the game.

That had been the day that Bakura had gained Yami's friendship, and since he was a talented poker player- he had beaten all that he had come across except for Yami- he went and had a wrist guard of his own made, making him the Ace of Hearts while Yami was the Ace of Spades.

"Don't tell me ya want to take on another mouth to feed," Bakura mumbled, taking a drink. "It's bad enough that nag of yours eats more than all of us put together."

Shooting a glare at the white haired outlaw, Yami snorted. "Phantom isn't the pig in this gang, if anything it's that two-toned boar of yours."

Shaking his head, Bakura gave the other a pointed look. "You're actually going to ask him, aren't ya?"

"I think so, of course I am going to challenge him to a game and see how good he really is," Yami smirked. "Besides we can't be the Wild Aces when we are still missing two key members."

Chuckling, Bakura waved his hand, swaying Yami's attention. "How about letting me challenge him to a game, then if he wins he can face you," he smirked. "I think to be in this little gang that they should earn their spot here."

Smirking, Yami nodded in agreement while watching Bakura take a final drink before heading off toward the Marik character. "Good luck."

Taking a seat across from Marik, Bakura smiled. "How about playing me a game," He smirked. "Name's Bakura, by the way."

Marik smirked but agreed to the game. "Well Bakura, I'm Marik and I hope there will be no hard feelings when I beat you."

"None taken, course ya gotta beat me first."

Yami watched quietly from the bar. His crimson eyes taking in each player's hands as well as the skill and talent that they used. Marik was an exceptional player as well, his skill and talent ranking right alongside Bakura's.

After a few moments, Bakura had become the victor of the game and smirked at Yami before turning to Marik and offering him a smile. "You got some great skills, come and join my friend and I for a drink."

Yami smiled as the two approached the bar. "Nice game, Marik."

"How could it be a nice game, I lost?" Marik asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Maybe, but you beat everyone else in here without a problem, showing that you had a lot of talent," Yami grinned. "Bakura has just had a lot more practice."

"Or maybe I'm just more talented," Bakura smirked, earning a glare from Marik and a pointed look from Yami.

"You still have yet to beat me, Bakura," Yami smirked. "And you have been challenging me for years now."

Marik smirked at the look that crossed the white haired man's face. It was look of annoyance, meaning that the crimson eyed figure had struck a nerve. Looking over at the other, his violet eyes clashed against striking scarlet.

"I'm Yami," Yami smiled, offering the other his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Yami, you already know who I am," Marik chuckled.

"That I do," Yami nodded before returning to his drink just as Marik ordered a shot of whiskey. "So Marik, where ya from?"

"Oh well, I'm a bit of drifter," Marik sighed running a finger across the rim of his shot glass. "Been one for about 2 years now."

"Sounds familiar," Yami sighed, offering the other a small smile. "Bakura and I have been drifters for quite a while now as well."

"Yeah thanks to Yami, we got kicked out of town," Bakura sighed, earning another glare from Yami. "Not that I'm complaining or anything since we had nothing to live for in that town, anyways."

"Oh, and why's that?"

"Both our parents died on us, leaving us orphans around the age of 10 and well instead of being good little boys like the old ladies of the town wanted us to be…"

"We were complete Hell raisers!" Bakura chuckled cutting Yami off. "Yami and I used to cause such a riot in town that everyone decided that we had to go or else they were going to hang us!"

"Sounds like you two had a lot of fun," Marik chuckled. "I on the other hand just had enough of my father to last me a life time and ran off, never been back home since then."

"Oh, so how would you like to travel with us?" Yami asked curiously.

"Sounds like a plan, what do you do anyways?"

Smirking, Bakura winked over in Yami's direction. "We're outlaws in a gang we like to call Wild Aces…"

"… And we would like to make you the third of the group," Yami smiled pulling out a black wrist guard from his duster pocket. The guard in his hand was just like Bakura's having the silver stitching but instead of a Heart it had the Diamond with an 'A' in the center of it. "The Ace of Diamonds.

( Story Break )

Yugi shook his head sadly before looking up into burning crimson eyes. "So your parents are dead as well?"

"Yeah, my ma died when I was a year old and my pa had to raise me," Yami shook his head, looking out the window to catch a small glimpse of what was left of the setting sun. "He was a real gambler and an ace at poker, taught me everything that I know and when I managed to beat him at a game he gave me the wrist guard."

Yugi nodded then smiled sadly. "My parents are dead as well, I can't remember too much about them, all I have left is grandpa and he doesn't like to talk about my parents," shaking his head, he hid a yawn before looking up to find Yami smiling at him. "What is it?"

"You're just too cute, little one," Yami smirked then chuckled at the glare thrown at him.

"I'll let ya slide on that one," Yugi pouted before chuckling. "So you mean to tell me that so far all the gang members have been drafted by challenging them to a poker game?"

"Yup, that's basically the way it was, until Seto came around," Yami chuckled.

"Why is he different?"

"Well we helped him out," Yami smiled.

"Do tell," Yugi chuckled before yawning once again.

"Are you sure you can stay up long enough for it?" Yami asked, looking at Yugi with a lopsided grin.

"Don't worry, just tell me."

"Alright," Yami chuckled. "Marik had been with us for about a year and we were out riding when…"

( Back to story )

Pulling their horses to a stop, Yami, Bakura and Marik looked down into the valley to see a small wagon with a tall brunet and a young black haired boy being attacked by a few thieves.

"Now that's just not right, sure we're outlaws and all, but hurting a little kid," Marik snorted while crossing his arms. "That's just not right."

"How about we do something about it?" Yami smiled, looking at his two companions.

"Oh damn, he's smiling," Bakura groaned, shaking his head.

"Mass Mayhem?" Marik asked looking over at Yami with a smirk of his own.

"I do believe so," Yami smirked. "Care to make the first strike?"

"Don't mind if I do," Marik chuckled before giving his horse a firm nudge. "Hyah!"

"I don't know who's crazier, you or him?" Bakura sighed, nudging his horse.

Watching his two companions, Yami looked over the scene to notice the figure that looked to be the leader of the band of thieves reaching for the holstered rifle attached to his saddle. "What say we give that guy a surprise, eh Phantom?" he asked, receiving a snort and nod from his horse before the stallion took off into a steady gallop.

Feeling the horse's movements, Yami quickly and gracefully maneuvered himself in the saddle into an Indian side hold, his body hanging skillfully from the side of the horse, keeping him out of sight from the other riders. This was a very handy trick that he had learned over time and his horse was in-tune with all his ideas, which was great since the horse would give him the heads up on their target.

Hearing a whinny from Phantom, Yami quickly swung upright back in the saddle with one of his pistols aimed straight at the leader's head. Pulling his horse to animmediate stop, he smirked at seeing the dumbfounded look on the other's face. "Drop it, and call off your riders!"

The leader glared at Yami before issuing the command, calling back his riders and dropping his rifle to the ground. "You just made a grave mistake!"

"I'll live with it," Yami growled, keeping his gun steady while sensing his two companions riding up beside him. "Now ride on, before my friends and I send ya to an early dance with the devil."

Watching the others ride off, Marik chuckled before smacking Yami on the back. "You are one crazy son of a gun, ya know that!"

"You're one to talk," Bakura smirked, pointing over to one of the riders that Marik had attacked. "Barging right into them with that horse of yours then backing up to have your horse trample over them a few times."

"I thought the feller made a great shoe-cleaner for Renegade," Marik chuckled patting his horse's neck as the horse neighed in satisfaction.

Chuckling at the two of them, Yami turned his attention over to the wagon where the young black haired kid was frantically fussing over the brunet that was cupping his left arm. Nudging his horse's sides, he headed toward the wagon, leaving Marik and Bakura to their constant bickering.

"Everything all right?" Yami asked, looking over the two on the wagon.

"No, my big brother was shot by that haggard old coot!" the young one yelled.

"Mokuba, I'm fine, quit making such a fuss!" the brunet scolded, while looking back in the wagon to make sure all the supplies were there. Seeing that everything was still there, he sighed in relief before turning back to Yami. "Thank you, by the way."

"It was nothing, just thought y'all could use some help," Yami smiled, eyeing the brunet's cradled arm to notice blood seeping through the fabric of his shirt as well as under his fingers. "You better get that wrapped up."

"Yes, I suppose so," the brunet sighed, before looking at Yami with a hint of suspicion. "What do you want, since I clearly owe you now."

"You don't us anything, we only helped because you clearly needed it," Yami pointed out with a small frown.

"I find that hard to believe," the brunet snapped then winced at a twinge of pain. "This is the West, everybody wants something from somebody!"

"Seto, maybe he is telling the truth and just wanted to help us," Mokuba chimed in while offering Yami a warm smile of gratitude.

"Yeah, listen to the half-pint," Bakura butted in as he and Marik rode up beside Yami. "We just wanted to help y'all out."

"Hmm, then thank you for helping out," Seto sighed, reaching down for the reins but winced.

Dismounting from his horse, Marik handed his reins over to Yami before climbing up into the wagon and sitting beside Seto and grabbing the reins. "How about us taking ya home, then ya don't have to worry about any more bandits."

"Except the ones escorting him," Bakura whispered with a smirk at Yami.

"Thank you, how about as thanks that you all stay for supper?" Mokuba perked up, completely ignoring his brother's protests.

"We'd love to," Marik chuckled, giving the reins to the wagon a firm flick, causing the two mules to speed off. "You just tell me the way and I'll do the rest."

It didn't take long for them to reach the homestead that belonged to Seto and Mokuba, and the three of them were surprised to see the modest farm.

"Nice place, ya got here," Marik mused, pulling the mules to a stop at the front of the porch.

"Thanks, it's all we have left to remember our parents by," Mokuba sighed sadly before jumping from the wagon.

"Then how do you keep this place up?" Yami asked curiously, dismounting his horse and tying the reins to a post where the black stallion could drink from the water troth.

"Funds left by our family," Seto replied, jumping from the wagon and stepping up onto the porch.

"That and Seto goes into a nearby town and challenges a few people to poker games and he always wins," Mokuba smiled.

Yami, Bakura and Marik all smiled at one another before looking back at Seto to find him wrapping a cloth around his wound tightly.

"How about playing me a game, Seto?" Yami asked with a smirk while Bakura and Marik decided to help unload the supplies from the wagon.

"What's the stakes?"

"You win, you can have three extra hands around here and all the cash that we are packing," Yami smirked, ignoring the choking gasps from both Marik and Bakura.

"And what if you win?" Seto asked, cocking an eyebrow curiously.

"If I win, you will become the fourth and final member of the Wild Aces," Yami smirked.

"You're all the Wild Ace gang?" Mokuba asked in awe, looking at the three in amazement. "I've seen your names on tons of wanted posters, but none of them have ever had a sketch of you!"

Yami nodded at the little one before looking back at Seto. "So what will it be?"

Seto smirked, "I accept.'

( End Story )

Yami fought off a blush as he looked down at Yugi to find the youth's cherubic face in his lap while the rest of his body hung off the end of the bed, leaving his arms draped across Yami's legs. Running his fingers through the silky hair, he smirked while gently bending his legs, causing Yugi's body to be pulled up more on the bed.

Shifting against the pillows again, Yami used his good arm to softly move Yugi onto his side. He was shocked however when the little one snuggled up closer to his warmth and rested his head against Yami's chest. Threading his fingers through the silky strands once again, he smiled while looking over the little one in his arms. 'You truly are a little angel… my little angel.'

Joey yawned as he made his way back to the Sheriff's post. He smiled though at the hours that he had just spent in the saloon with Seto. They had talked over just about anything and completely lost track of time, but it was worth it.

"Shouldn't you be going home, pup?"

Hearing the voice, Joey quickly turned around to see Seto leading his horse down the street with a sleeping Mokuba slouching over the saddle. "That's exactly where I'm heading."

"Looks like you're going back to work." Seto pointed out.

"Nah, I just sleep in a bunk in the back room of the building," Joey sighed, fighting off another yawn. "I mean I did tell you that I didn't have any relatives around these parts."

"True, but I still thought you had your own home, or maybe at least lived with one of your friends, like Ryou for instances," Seto shook his head. "Bakura told me that Ryou had a rather large home for just one person."

"Maybe, but that's Ryou's place and I don't want to intrude and besides, I really don't want to be the same house as Bakura during the night," Joey sighed, leaning against one of the posts in front of the building.

"I can understand that," Seto chuckled, dropping the reins to his horse and walking up closer to Joey. "How about spending the night at my place, I'm sure its better than some bunk in a back room."

Joey blinked in surprise before looking up into intense sapphire eyes. "What's the catch?"

"No catch, pup," Seto smirked snapping his fingers, causing his horse to come over to him obediently. "I'm merely making an offer."

Thinking over the possibilities, Joey had to admit that it was an alluring idea, spending an entire night in the same house as the one he was having mental images of in rather farfetched and sensual situations. Smirking at the idea, Joey nodded. "All right, I'm game, just let me go get my horse."

Smiling, Seto climbed up onto his own saddle and wrapped his arms around his brother's waist before following after Joey.

Meanwhile…

Bakura mentally chuckled as he watched Ryou help put away all his things, he could already tell that his little infatuation was a neat-freak. "Ya know, you could just leave it all on the floor for just tonight."

"But, Bakura," Ryou started but was silenced as Bakura put a finger to his lips.

"Leave it, Ryou," Bakura shook his head, while removing his finger. Mentally his insides tingled at the feel of those soft lips against his fingertips. "You go to sleep and well I'll go to sleep whenever I get the urge too."

"You should really get some sleep, Bakura," Ryou smiled, walking toward the door. "I know that it took a lot out of you to lug all your belongings back here, then brushing down your horse, and then of course helping to move Yami."

Sighing, Bakura shook his head while sitting down on the bed and kicking off his boots. "Maybe you're right, sleep does sound good right now."

"Good night then, Bakura."

"Night, Ryou," Bakura sighed, watching the other leave the room and closing the door behind him. Smirking to himself, he quickly undid his gun belt and tossed it on a chair against the wall. "I wonder how the others are making it tonight."

Upstairs of the Tailor Shop…

Marik opened his door and looked down the hall making sure that Malik was out of sight before closing the door and grabbing his saddlebag to pull out a white sack full of dynamite. Smirking, he quickly stuffed the sack under his pillow and sat back on his bed.

It had taken him forever to get Malik to leave before he could get his little treasure put in place. Yami's early warning had Malik watching him like a hawk and it was being a pain in the ass to deal with. It didn't help that when Malik went with him to get his stuff that he had seen the bag and had asked what it was, but of course he didn't tell him anything, choosing to ignore the question.

To make it worse when they had been taking Yami to the General store, Malik had asked Yami and Bakura what was in the sack and Yami, once again, had told Malik that it was probably his dynamite.

Getting ready to lay on his bed, he jumped as Malik swung the door open and walked over to him with a glare on his face and holding out his hands. "Hand over the dynamite!"

"What dynamite?" Marik shrugged putting on an innocent façade, or at least attempting to anyways.

Growling at the other, Malik quickly jerked the pillow away from the bed to reveal the white sack. Snatching it before Marik could get it, he lifted the bag in front of the other and continued to glare. "This dynamite! Yami warned me about this and so I will keep it safely… away from you!"

With that said, Marik watched as Malik left the room, taking his precious dynamite with him. Growling at his ill luck, he turned to glare out the window. 'Damn you, Yami!'