-Wild Aces-

The days seemed to be going by a lot quicker, or at least that was the way it seemed to him. Yugi sighed from his perch on top of the corral fence at Ryou's place. Yami had been really fussy the last few days, ever since they had heard the news of Silver City's Mayor's daughter being kidnapped leaving the Mayor to pay a ransom and then when the request was met, the girl had been left barely alive two miles out of town, courtesy of none other than Silver Mane.

That being the reason, Yami was determined to get out and back in the saddle, whether the others thought he was ready or not. Shaking his head, Yugi pouted while pulling his rain slicker more firmly against him. Out of all the times Yami had chosen to get back into the saddle, you would think he would choose a nice warm sunny day, but no, it just had be raining, oh well at least it wasn't pouring the rain… yet anyways.

"You do realize that we're sitting out in the rain doing nothing but watching Yami ride a horse," Bakura drawled out from his perch a little ways down from Yugi. "As exciting as that may seem, I really don't see the point in it!"

"I have to agree with Whitey here," Marik chimed in, leaning against the fence with his head resting over his crossed arms.

"Expect the unexpected," Seto mused while continuing to watch Yami out in the pasture. Glancing to see the confused looks on Bakura's and Marik's face he sighed. "It means…"

"He's training himself," Yugi butted in, never moving his gaze from Yami. "The weather is just an obstacle that Yami is facing, he's riding in the rain to strengthen his grip and to see how far he can go with that healing wound."

Smiling, Seto nodded in agreement. "Yugi's right."

"I still say it's a stupid idea," Bakura mumbled, taking a glance over to the house. "Especially since we could be inside eating instead of sitting out in the rain watching him ride a horse."

"No one's making you stay out here, Whitey."

"Would you please stop calling me, WHITEY!"

Chuckling at the yell, Marik cast a glance over to the house before looking back at Bakura. "You could always go inside and sweep lil Ryou off his feet."

"Dammit, Marik!" Bakura hissed, trying to smack the other but missed and ended up toppling off the fence to land face-first in the mud.

Seto and Marik both chuckled at the sight as Bakura spit out a mouth full of mud before grabbing his hat and swiping the mud from it.

"Not a word, you two!"

Marik laughed before pointing at the other's face. "You missed a spot."

Growling and smacking the hand away, Bakura wiped his face over his duster sleeve before heading toward the house. "You three can stay out here in the rain, but I'm going inside."

"Have fun with Ryou," Marik taunted before avoiding the rock thrown at him. "Damn, Whitey, what happened to your aim?"

The next rock hit him dead on.

"Ow, damn you!" Marik hissed, rubbing his aching temple while shooting a glare at the running white haired figure. Snorting and planning future revenge, he turned his attention back to Yami before looking back up at Yugi. He had a soft spot for the little friend of Malik's, especially since Yugi had told him that he would take care of the window for him.

"You like him, don't you?" He asked, nudging the little one lightly. Seeing a flush of pink dart across those creamy cheeks, Marik smirked knowingly.

Looking down at Marik, Yugi swallowed the lump in his throat before offering the other a small smile. "I've never met anyone like him," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper, but it was loud enough for Marik to hear. "I do like him, maybe more than I should, especially since you're all outlaws."

Marik was still a bit surprised that Yugi had been the one to figure them out so quickly. Malik had told him that he knew the truth and Yugi had been the one to tell him about who they really were. "Oh, would you feel the same if he was a good-guy?"

Shaking his head, Yugi sighed. "No, He's perfect the way he is," he smiled, folding his hands across his lap. "I think him being an outlaw is pretty thrilling, but as for my grandpa, if he was to know that Yami was an outlaw…"

"He'd turn him in?" Marik asked and sighed as he watched Yugi nod sadly. "So is that the only reason that you haven't told him you like him?"

"How do you know I like him anyways?" Yugi asked, keeping his head low so that Marik couldn't see his constant blushing.

"Because you're out in the rain watching him, while everyone else is in the house," Marik smirked then frowned lightly. "Like for instance, I like your friend Malik, but I'm out here and he's inside, but then again I think he's giving me the cold shoulder."

"No one likes to be slapped in the ass, Marik. Compliment or not, I don't think Malik appreciated it that much, especially in front of all the customers," Yugi chuckled, remembering the incident from two days ago.

Pouting, Marik lightly rubbed his left cheek where a bruise in the form of a hand-print was slightly visible. Malik had smacked him and threw a slew of curses at him before pushing him out of the shop and all but demanding him to go find one of his friends. Shaking his head, he cocked an eyebrow curiously at seeing Seto setting up a row of cans along the fence. "What are you doing?"

"Yami said he wanted to practice, might as well practice his aim while riding," Seto replied, setting up the last can. "Especially since he is mainly left handed and his left shoulder is the one that was injured."

"I thought he used both hands?" Marik mused, scratching his cheek lightly with his index finger in a curious manner.

Shaking his head, Seto sighed. "Yami is a good shot with both hands, his aim is better though with his left hand." Watching Marik still try to get the gist of things, he sighed before letting out a shrill whistle to get Yami's attention then pointing at the set up cans.

Pulling back on Phantom's reins, Yami looked over to see the shooting targets that Seto had set up. It was going to be a bit tricky with getting the right aim since it was continuing to rain, but he needed all the practice he could get, especially since his arm was healing and at the moment was killing him.

Looking over the fence he could see Marik leaning against the fence talking to Yugi. He frowned lightly at the thought of his little angel being possibly hit on by the other, but he had to remember that Marik was after his own little hell-cat by the name of Malik. "What about it, Phantom? Are you ready to have some fun?"

The horse snorted lightly in agreement as Yami chuckled before giving the horse a firm nudge to the sides Taking off into a quick canter, Yami locked his legs in place while gripping the reins tightly in his left hand and pulling out a pistol.

Yugi watched in awe and excitement as Yami rode into action. Hearing the sound of gunfire, he jumped as one of the cans on the fence across from him was knocked off the fence. With each sound of the gun, one of the cans would be knocked off the fence.

"Well at least we know he can still shoot," Marik smirked, turning his attention back to the show to see Yami riding toward them with the reins clamped in his mouth while toting his pistols in both his hands. "Nice shootin', glad to know ya haven't lost your aim."

Wincing slightly while putting his pistols back in the holsters, Yami took the reins out of his mouth and smiled. "Thanks," he offered before turning to look at Yugi to notice him getting off the fence and heading toward the barn. "Yugi?"

Seto and Marik both turned to see the little one heading toward the barn. Not sure of what to do, Marik just opened the gate so that Yami could ride out. "Better go and see what is bothering him, Yami."

Nodding, Yami gave another nudge sending Phantom into a quick walk, heading after Yugi to see what was troubling his little one.

Watching Yami leave, Marik turned back to Seto. "Any thoughts?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do ya think is bothering him?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you're the smart one," Marik pointed out. Watching as Seto arched an eyebrow curiously, he sighed. "Whitey's the grouchy sharp shooter, Yami is the aloof, show-off, oh hell he is a lot of things, I'm the handsome one that likes to blow things up," ignoring the scoff, he continued. "Leaving you to be the smart one."

"It is none of our business," Seeing the pout, Seto smirked. "Let them deal with it, we all have our own problems, like you for starters."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Marik huffed.

"Simple, you have a certain hell-cat to tame," Seto chuckled. "Ya know for one to be known as a rugged outlaw, ya sure are getting pushed around by a little tailor."

Growling at the other, Marik stomped away, choosing to ignore the laughter coming from Seto. Stopping a few feet away from the porch steps, he smirked while looking over his shoulder. "I might be getting pushed around by a little 'tailor' as ya put it, but at least I ain't letting a certain pup get the better of me."

Glaring at the other, Seto growled dangerously. "Don't you bring my pup into this!"

Chuckling, Marik ran into the house before Seto could either shoot him or hit him with a rock.

In the barn…

Yami winced as he pulled Phantom to a stop. Dismounting from his horse, he kept the reins in his hand while walking the horse inside to see Yugi over in the corner sitting on a bale of hay while patting his own horse's muzzle. Pulling his horse behind him, he sighed as he noticed the little one ignoring his presence.

"Yugi, what's wrong?" He asked, coming to a stop right in front of the other.

Continuing to stroke his horse's muzzle, Yugi's fingers laced themselves into the mare's inky forelock. "It's nothing," he whispered, still not looking up at Yami.

Yami was completely lost. Ever since he had been around Yugi, the little one had been so happy and shy since he would blush at all Yami's compliments and gestures. Although, he had noticed that since hearing of Silver Mane that Yugi had been a bit quieter and… "You're worried, ain't ya?"

Not answering, Yugi hid his face behind the appaloosa's head.

"Yugi, I don't think you have anything to worry about, I doubt Silver Mane will even come into Vander again," Yami sighed.

"It's not the town I'm worried about," Yugi sighed softly.

Dropping Phantom's reins, Yami walked closer to notice Yugi using the sleeve of his rain slicker to wipe his face. It hurt to see the one he thought of as an angel shedding tears. Reaching over, he gently wiped away the other's tears. "Then what are you worried about?"

Teary amethyst eyes looked up into concerned, caring crimson as Yugi sighed. "I'm worried about you."

"You don't have to worry about me…"

"Yes, I do too," Yugi sighed, quickly getting to his feet and walking away from the hay to lean against one of the stalls. "You're not fully healed and even though I watched ya out there and know that ya can still shoot a gun, you're not ready to face Silver Mane again."

Blinking, and not sure what to say at the moment, Yami continued to sit on the bale of hay. "Yugi…"

"Yami, you're still hurt and Silver Mane knows that. He will deliberately be gunning for you," Yugi sniffled. "And even though you're on the wrong side of the law and all, I don't want to loose you."

Smiling, Yami got up from the bale of hay and slowly walked over to the other. Reaching out to touch the other's cheek, he caressed the skin softly before cupping the petit chin and lifting it up to meet his gaze. "Is there something you want to tell me, little one?"

Yugi blushed lightly, despite his gloomy mood, but from one look of those crimson jewels he felt his stomach knot up and his heart skip a beat. Swallowing lightly, he managed a smile. "I really like you, Yami. More than I really should, but I can't help it."

Smiling at the confession, Yami felt his heart swell. Offering the smaller a heart-stopping smile, he leaned in closer so that his eyes were even with the others. "I really like you too, Yugi. More than I have liked anyone else."

Smiling, Yugi closed his eyes briefly to remember those words before opening his eyes once again. "Really, Yami?"

Deciding to prove his words, Yami brought Yugi's chin up a bit more before leaning down and claiming those soft rosy lips with his own. It was a chaste kiss, but from the look on Yugi's face, he could tell that the little one enjoyed it and appreciated the seal of promise to his words. "Really, Yugi."

"Where's Yami and Yugi?" Ryou asked, looking at both Seto and Marik as they both walked into the kitchen.

"I'm guessing they're in the barn," Marik shrugged lightly while taking a seat beside Malik at the table. Reaching over to snatch a piece of bacon from the other's plate, he yelped as his hand was jabbed with a fork.

"Get ya own!" Malik snapped, mentally chuckling at that adorable pout that Marik was doing. "Ryou made enough food for everyone."

Ryou nodded. "Yup, there is enough food here to feed the entire town, thanks to Yugi's grandpa." It was true, Mr. Mouto always ordered surpluses of supplies and since Ryou was basically an adopted grandson, he always made sure that he had enough to make do.

Rubbing his hand from the fork wound, Marik grabbed the plate handed to him by Ryou before heading off to the stove to get what he wanted. Seeing the spread, he blinked before looking over at Seto to see him talking to Joey. "Damn, Seto, how come ya never fixed any of this stuff at home! All you ever fixed us were beans and tators."

Seto shot him an icy glare. "I fixed what I had!" he bit out while crossing his arms. "But if I recall you weren't complaining!"

"You fed us that so much we forgot what real food was," Bakura chuckled, completely ignoring the glare Seto was throwing at him.

"Whitey does have a point," Marik agreed while shoveling his face full.

Watching the display, Ryou shook his head before looking over at Malik to find him doing the same thing. Rolling his eyes, he sighed while taking another sip of his tea. 'Malik is definitely the right one for Marik, neither one of them have any table manners, then again neither did Bakura. The only one with manners so far has been Seto, since Joey is in the same saddle as the others. I wonder if Yami has manners, I know Yugi has them.'

"Oh now this is food," Marik swallowed with a big smile on his face. "Seto your out and Ryou you're in as the new cook!"

Shaking his head, Seto rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration before turning to look at Joey who was smiling. "What is so amusing, pup?"

"Nothing much, just I thought your cooking was pretty good," Joey chuckled.

Seto smiled lightly. "You should, ya nearly ate me out of house and home."

"Hey!"

"Oh, did he do you the same way?" Ryou asked with a small smile. "Joey has been known to eat more than most."

"That's for sure," Malik chimed in. "He sure makes a hog of himself at Duffy's."

"Miss Lana says that he eats more than she does," Ryou chuckled. " And she's eating for two."

Joey at the moment had turned redder than any tomato and was glaring at the two of his friends. "Would ya both knock it off!"

"Hmm, quite the bottom less pit, ain't ya," Seto smirked, earning a little glare from the blond. "And here I thought Marik was bad."

"Watch it!" Marik snapped before going back to his food.

Chuckling at all the commotion, Bakura got up from his seat and walked back out onto the porch to see Mokuba sitting on one of the rocking chairs watching it rain. "What ya doing, half-pint?"

Turning to look at the other, Mokuba shook his head. "Nothing much, Whitey."

Bakura glared at the youngster. "Don't you start calling me that, half-pint. It's bad enough having that numbskull calling me that!"

"Aw, but I want to give you a nickname as well," Mokuba pouted. "It's only fair since you call me 'half-pint' all the time."

Leaning against the porch railing, Bakura ran a hand through his spiky white hair, since he had left his hat inside. "I guess ya can give me a nickname, but only if I like it."

"Alright," Mokuba smiled. "How about Kura?"

"No, sounds like some pansy name," Bakura stuck his tongue out in distaste. "Try again."

"Hmm, how about Bandit."

"Aren't you forgetting?" Bakura shook his head. "That's my horse's name."

"Oh yeah, sorry," Mokuba sighed lightly while marking out all the horse's names so not to use those again. Looking the other over for a minute he snapped his fingers. "How about Powder?"

"Oh, hell no!"

"Aw, c'mon Bakura," Mokuba whined. "I mean since you do have white hair and all."

"I don't care, you're not going to call me that!" Bakura shook his head. "I'd rather be called 'Whitey' any day besides 'Powder'."

"Oh okay, then Whitey it is."

"Wha- Now just hold on a dag-blasted minute there!" Bakura growled but Mokuba merely smiled.

"Time for me to get some grub, later Whitey."

Clenching his fists, Bakura growled while watching the black haired youngster vanish inside. "Oh I'm going to get that little hooligan."

"Really now, Bakura. Quit lying to yourself, y'know ya like Mokuba."

Bristling, Bakura glared as he spun around to see Yami. Looking the other over, his eyes widened as they came to rest on the sight of Yami's right hand, which was currently joined with Yugi's left hand. Looking back at the other, he smirked lightly. "Something nice happen in the barn?"

Yugi flushed lightly at the tone Bakura was using. It was still shocking to find out that Yami felt the same way about him, but he was still on his high from the simple kiss that they shared. Tucking himself out view from those russet brown eyes, he hid himself behind Yami.

"Leave us alone, Bakura," Yami glared before smirking lightly. "Or is it Powder or Whitey, now?"

Growling, Bakura glared at the other. "I hate you."

"Hmm, well I do feel loved," Yami pouted lightly . "Marik told me the same thing a few days ago."

Yugi chuckled remembering that time pretty well, especially since Marik looked as if he were ready to kill Yami, but thankfully he had settled for glaring at him and slinging some rather vibrant and colorful language instead. Seeing Yami pout, he tugged on the other's duster sleeve to get his attention.

Feeling the tug, Yami leaned down to see what Yugi wanted, but was still wearing his pouting face at Bakura. "What is it, little one?"

Smiling and ignoring Bakura, Yugi placed a small kiss on Yami's cheek. "Just to let you know that I don't hate you."

Yami grinned while turning around and pulling Yugi into a warm embrace to capture the little one's lips once again before pulling back to look at Bakura. "Ha, who needs you and Marik, I have all the love I need from my little one here," he smirked playfully.

Shaking his head, Bakura watched as the two of them walked by and into the house while still holding hands. Mentally shuddering at the thought of a love-crazed Yami, he nervously rubbed his arms together. True, he knew he really liked Ryou and all and could more than tell that Marik and Malik had their eyes on one another too, and even the moody Seto had the blond pup that he was giving longing looks too.

He just hoped that he wasn't turning soft. God-forbid that would happen. Trying to imagine himself in the same position, he blinked and shook his head at the thought of being love-crazed and acting like Yami did just moments ago. 'Aw hell, now I'm going to have nightmares for a week!'