Bakura opened the door and gave a disgusted shout.
"For God's sakes, if you two are going to be doing...that...then do it in your room!" Bakura snarled at the two gay lovers. They flushed, their hair tousled, some of their clothes ripped off of each other.
"We were...Um...Practicing." Duke lied. Ryou's eyes widened as Bakura's did. The elder of the three stared at them, bug-eyed and his jaw slack.
"My brother is always saying stupid things." Anzu announced, strolling in, shutting Bakura's jaw with her index finger. She was acting as though nothing had happened with him in his office; alone. Bakura snapped out of his astonishment and glared at Anzu, ready to retort, but as his eyes lowered, he snapped his mouth shut, interested in other things. Duke shot a dark look at him; not appreciating the way the scoundrel was looking at his sister.
"So, Bakura!" Duke practically howled out the two words. His nemesis – for if not for Bakura's insisting of the money Duke had lost to him, none of this would have happened, especially the marriage with his sister – turned to him, glowering.
"So, what?" Bakura spat at him; very much wishing he had followed Anzu to her room.
"So when are you two going to court? After your last appearance at that ball, invitations have been swarming here."
"What?"
"Here." Duke shoved many invitations in his hands. "These all arrived in the last few days."
"Few? As in...?" Duke just stared at him blankly. "I need a specific number, dammit!" Ryou flinched as Bakura snarled at his lover. Duke gave considering look, appearing royally pissed.
"Three, mayhap four." Duke replied through tightly clenched teeth. Ryou swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling the tension between the two. Bakura snorted, almost smugly.
"Don't forget who has your life in their hands, Lord Duke." Bakura stressed his name to a point that caused Duke to grind his teeth.
"I'll try" was his vague answer. Bakura eyed him, his eyes narrowing contemptuously.
"Good." He slapped the invitations down on the long mahogany dining table. "A few of these may have already passed."
"I doubt it," Ryou spoke up. "The holders of the parties and balls always send them about a week before it's held."
"Hmm...Then if it had been four days as you have said, Duke, then there should be one tonight." Bakura considered his words for a moment, opening each of them. "Auspiciously," he continued, "the imprudent, aristocratic fools of the ton make sure that their party is not on the same date as another's."
"So..." Duke said slowly, his raging demons evaporating. "That would mean you and my sister are going to have a busy month."
"Just the two of us?" Bakura turned to them, his expression leering at the two. "We're not going alone."
"It might convince them a bit more." Ryou suggested. Not only did he not want to go, but he also wanted an opportunity to be alone with Duke.
"Perhaps." At Bakura's scrutinizing gaze, any hopes he had were deflated. "Yami, of course, will be attending. So will Isis and Seto, no thanks to Anzu. And because of Isis, Marik and Malik are sure to come with."
"Speaking of Malik, Bakura," Ryou initiated carefully, "did you drive him to leave?"
"I wouldn't dream of it!" Bakura exclaimed, looking mortified at the thought. Falsely, at that.
"Listen," Ryou sighed, "you were threatening him and he probably thought that you were waiting the right moment to kill him. Such as, I don't know...When he slept?"
"Why would – "
"He's been sleeping in the daytime – when you're gone. Explain that to me." Bakura stared at him, stunned. Everything Ryou said made perfect sense. Unfortunately.
"Shit." Bakura swore just as Anzu entered.
"What is it?" Anzu's brow furrowed. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Malik's missing." Duke justified briefly. Her eyes enlarged at his words.
"Missing?" She breathed. Duke nodded. "Do we have any idea where he might be?"
"No, but we have a hunch of why he left." Duke shot a dark look at Bakura, who glared.
"Bakura, I demand an explanation." She crossed her arms underneath her breasts. Bakura rolled his eyes at her command.
"Apparently, I provoked him." He grunted, shifting uncomfortably in his chair, waiting for the explosion; which didn't take long to erupt.
"What! WELL OF COURSE YOU DID, YOU IDIOTIC BRUTE! IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, YOU WERE THE ONE THREATENING HIM AND SLITTING HIS WRISTS! OH WAIT, YOU DID DO THAT, DIDN'T YOU!" All three men stared at her in utter horror, surprised that she had shouted so loud. And even more that she was clutching onto Bakura's collar, superficially perplexed. "You could have thought how he felt! You could have thought how this would affect people! You could have tried to remember his honest explanation! But nooo, you decided to threaten him and glare at him instead! You decided that nothing mattered but yourself. You decided that all that mattered was money, sex, women, drugs and everything else that is evil in the world! How do you think Marik is going to react? What if Malik's hurt or is danger? Or have you forgotten that my father, Julian and probably a hundred others are after you and your men? Oh wait. Of course you have. It doesn't matter about anyone else, just you." She let go of him, storming out. The door slammed callously.
"Anzu's unquestionably pissed." A voice spoke sweetly. The three males – one of which was a traumatized Bakura – swung around to see Yami leaning in the window. "Hello, old chaps. Bet you didn't know I was here, did you?"
"Just get in here." Ryou told him, sighing. Yami trekked over to the door and eyed the few cracks from Anzu's brutal handing with it. He was smiling. Mainly because her anger was directed at his adversary.
"My, my," he observed, "that woman has more strength than I anticipated. That's attractive." Ryou rolled his eyes, not interested in the attractiveness of a woman. He could care less about women in general. However, Anzu was a different story. He glanced at his brother, who was glaring at Yami, his eyes holding a deep fire.
"How dare she shout at me!" Evidently Bakura had gotten over the shock, rather quickly, too.
"She must feel bloody deeply to lecture you so, er...Ardently." Yami told him, fishing in his pockets, beaming at the same time. "I wonder where she was going."
"Probably to find Mar..." Bakura shot up. "The whore!" He shoved Yami out of his way, sprinting outside after her.
"Was he going to say Marik's name, perhaps?" Yami asked, already knowing the answer. His sweet smile curled into a smirk. "First sign that he's in love: jealousy." Ryou raised his eyebrows, but quickly shook his head.
"I suppose that we should go after him?"
"I suppose so, young one." Yami grinned at Ryou's appalled expression. "Don't worry. When you're not a virgin, I'll cease calling you that." He winked at him and strolled unhurriedly outside to his curricle.
"I wonder if they'll kill us for being the cause of this."
"Well," Duke sighed. "I suppose we better go after them. I don't want Bakura hurting my sister."
"Hmm, I agree." Ryou concurred. "I don't want Anzu to hurt my brother." Both blinked.
"The hell? How could she?"
"In that state of mind, it makes me wonder." Duke's eyelashes fluttered.
"Too true. Let's go!"
"Yes, let's."
Marik grumbled under his breath, watching the men gamble, losing their money. They deserve it, too. He sighed. "First Bakura decides to stay home, then Malik doesn't show up. What's next?" He paused. "I'm guessing all hell will break lose and I'll have to deal with the shit." He heard the doors bang open and rolled his eyes, not bothering to see whom it is. "Another amateur walking to his demise."
"I hope you're having fun." A feminine voice hissed. He blinked.
Feminine? Sounds familiar...Marik thought, then turned to see whom it was.
"Oh, it's you."
"Yes, me." Anzu bit the words out in rage. "Your idiotic friend and employer is a dumbass, you know that?"
"Well, I – "
"He provoked your brother and now I can't find him! He's gone! Vanished! He could be lost or Julian could have him captive!" She paused, very briefly. "Don't you care!"
"Well I'm sure – "
"You're just like Bakura! You both are selfish!"
"Anzu, you're not even – "
"How can you do this to me? I thought you'd care! He's your brother for God sakes!" She burst into tears and Marik stared in utter shock.
Shit, she's hysterical!"Um, well..."
"Hey!" A buff man came up, looking pissed. "Is this guy givin' you any trouble, lady? Cause if he made you cry..." The burly man rolled up his sleeve. Marik's face turned an insipid color.
"Alright!" Bakura burst in, looking even more pissed. "Where the hell is she?" Marik felt his heart drop to his stomach.
Oh FUCK! It's between her and Bakura. And...I'm in the middle of it. Just what I need. A big oaf threatening to beat me to a bloody pulp, Bakura pissed at Anzu, and Anzu crying in front of me. Shit. Shit! SHIT! Marik groaned aloud, causing the "oaf" to narrow his eyes.
"You think you can take me, string bean?"
You asshole!
"I never said that." Marik told him calmly. Even though I very well could...Maybe if Malik and I BOTH jumped him. Damn.
"I bet you're thinking it!" Anzu sniffled. "You and Bakura are too alike! Smug and...Thinking highly of yourselves." She burst into tears, yet again. Bakura stormed up to them, glowering.
"Go the hell away, this doesn't concern you." He snarled to the other man. The man frowned, glancing apprehensively at Anzu, then left grudgingly. "Up to my office, now." Anzu shot a dirty look at him, standing stalk still. To reinforce her point, she stomped one foot and after wiping her tear-stained face, crossed her arms under her breasts in a defiant gesture. Everyone was watching the scene, even the gamblers. "Anzu, my mood has been pushed to the limit. Now, unless you want me to carry you up there, then you will go up there with Marik and I of your own accord, do I make myself clear?"
In response, Anzu turned her head from him, sticking her nose in the air, giving a 'harrumph'. Narrowing his eyes, Bakura grabbed her waist and heaved her over his shoulder. "Let go of me! Rape!" Many of the men shuffled forward, hesitantly, wondering if they should help. Marik was staring in horror as she and Bakura ended up wrestling each other. Him, trying to force her upstairs; she, trying to escape his grasp.
"Dammit, woman, just cooperate!" He snapped heatedly.
"I swear to the gods that I'll castrate you, Bakura!" She ground out, ignoring his imploration.
"What the devil is going on in here?" Yami asked, smiling as always. It wavered when he saw Anzu and Bakura on the stairs. "I really insist on an answer."
"Well..." An elderly marquess spoke up to answer Yami's question diffidently. "We're not quite sure. She came up to that young man right there," he nodded to Marik, "said something, then burst into tears. A bit after that, Lord Bakura came in and he said something to her as well. After she gave a rather insubordinate look, and pose as well, he hauled her over his shoulder. That's when she started to resist and they ended up like this." Yami's smile turned upside down as he opened his mouth. Nothing came out, despite his attempt. He impulsively shut it and stared over at the scene on the stairs.
"Oh my" was all Yami managed out. He cleared his throat, weaved his way through the crowds and nodded to Marik. "You take Bakura, I'll take Anzu."
"Sure that's wise?"
"You want to end up in the position Malik once was in?"
"Er...I see your point." Both of them lunged in and separated the two. Bakura was still shouting profanities at Anzu, who was glaring and swearing at him in French.
"Okay, that's quite enough." Yami told Anzu, wincing at her words. Out of all the men here in the casino, he was the only one who could understand French. Bakura had stopped struggling, but was growling, his eyes dark and flashing
violently. His muscles tensed under Marik's fingers, but his companion kept him in tack. Anzu eventually ceased her French swearing and decided to meet Bakura's glare with her own.
"Are we calm yet?" Marik inquired of the two. Bakura's growl became more distinct. Anzu simply sniffed.
"I am, if that animal over there is." She announced.
"What did you just call me, you ungrateful bitch!" She tensed at the insult, but remained calm.
"Sorry, I wasn't being specific. You overgrown mutt." Bakura lunged, but Marik held him back – with difficulty.
"We had better take them to Bakura's office." Yami suggested to Marik, who nodded. "You two are making a scene." Yami took Anzu's arm, guiding her up the stairs.
"Don't worry," she slid her arm out of Yami's grip with ease. "I'm not going to cause anymore ruckus. You might want to keep that beast over there in check, however."
"Fuck you!" Bakura snarled at her. Anzu glared at him, grinding her shoes into the stairs as she ascended them.
"Mmm," Duke snuggled against Ryou, "this is a unique place."
"I agree. But, uh, what if something did happen to those two?"
"Yami can handle it." Ryou shrugged.
"Okay, I can go with that." Duke grinned.
Anzu sat in a chair, looking stuck up to be precise. Bakura was still in a rage.
"Sit." Marik shoved him in the chair behind the desk. He bent his head and whispered in his ear, "And try to restrain your anger, Bakura. You two have already made a scene, mainly you."
"You and Yami will try to quiet it down, won't you?" He muttered lowly.
"We'll try."
"Okay," Yami sighed, looking weary. "What the hell were you two thinking!" Anzu slumped in her seat, guilt all across her face. Bakura – who didn't have any shame, it appeared – snorted at her.
"She was the one screaming out, 'Rape!'." He mimicked her voice and she hissed a profanity under her breath towards him. "Well, right back at you, sweetheart."
"Don't call me 'sweetheart', you sick bastard."
"Right, that's me, Anzu." Bakura snapped sarcastically. "I'm the sick bastard alright."
"Well you've slept with enough women to prove my point!"
"AND THAT SUDDENLY MATTERS TO YOU?"
"Did I say that!" Yami winced, having trouble with all of this. Marik doubt that even the bright, happy-go, short lord could bring back the somewhat "friendship" the two had.
"Listen," Yami rubbed his eyes, "what started this?"
"Her shouting in my face."
"You and Marik both deserved it!"
"I – wait, did you say...Marik?" Bakura stared at her in bemusement.
"Yes," she huffed, "he's just as sanctimonious as you are!"
"Sancti-whatta?" Marik blinked dimly. Anzu sighed.
"Self-righteous, in other, simpler words."
"Oh."
"I am not!" Bakura snarled at her. "I didn't care when I first heard about it because I wasn't thinking straight yesterday! And I forgot about it until Ryou and Duke brought up Malik's absence." Anzu stared at him, perplexed.
"Oh." She murmured, lowering her eyes, embarrassed.
Well, what do you know? They fucking worked it out. What bullshit. Yami thought bitterly, very much unlike his character.
"Yeah," Bakura told her, his eyes narrowed. "I would have told you this earlier, but nooo, you wanted to put up a fight." Anzu flushed.
"I'm sorry, Bakura...But...I was really angry."
"Obviously." Bakura grunted.
"But that doesn't mean I forgive you!" She told him sternly. "What about Malik? Should we be looking for him?"
"He's a big boy," Marik remarked to her, shrugging. "He doesn't need us holding his hand, and besides – " The doors opened and they all turned.
Cliffhanger! Who's come? Is it someone new? Or someone else? Or perhaps Ryou and Duke decided to join them. Find out next chapter!
