Ok, first the disclaimer: I don't own even the smallest bit of Yu-Gi-Oh. Don't plan to … The characters are just too fun to play with (grins)

Warning! If you don't like OC's and OOC-ness and Mary-Sue's THEN DON'T READ THIS FIC. It was intended merely for the fun on the message board it was created on, with permission from everyone who participated in the RPG this story came out on…

A/N: This has nothing to do really with the actual story at all. I have a message forum for Yu-Gi-Oh and other anime and this little story was cooked up between my friend Blue and me. This is in the fantasy genre because it includes characters with magical powers. We have our characters as well as characters from the show. You will see Bakura acting slightly… ok a LOT ooc in this one. No flames if you choose to leave any remarks. This is strictly for the comic/romance tale to tell…

Well then… We are going from comedy, to action… On with the fic…

Chapter 5

Trouble on the Horizon

"Welcome to the family you always loved to hate…"

Bakura stood still in absolute shock for a moment as he turned the ring over in his hands, looking hard at it, before slipping it onto his left ring finger. He brightened and after swearing to never hurt her, he spun around and ran back to Zahara, who was still standing and waiting for him. He swept her off her feet and spun her around in circles causing her to squeal in shock.

"Hey, Zahara! Guess what?" Before she could answer, he leaned down and captured her lips with his own in a deep and passionate kiss.

Zahara blinked when the kiss ended and smiled warmly at him. "I am guessing good news?" She asked with a fierce blush coloring her cheeks. Atem stood and watched them embrace each other, marveling at Bakura's reaction.

"Who knew he would be so happy about joining my family…

"Our family," Aurora corrected him as she slipped an arm around his waist with a grin.

Atem blinked. "Right, that's what I meant…" Aurora chuckled. They stopped laughing however when Bakura's next shout caught their attention.

"WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BA-" He stopped himself with a cough. "I mean… WE'RE GOING TO BE MARRIED!" Zahara gave him an odd look when he caught his words.

"Um…" She sighed and bit her lip again. She just was not sure about being a mother just yet. She smiled, though, as she was extremely happy about the upcoming wedding. Her nervous look had not escaped Bakura's eyes, however.

"What's the matter?" He swallowed hard. Oh no! I hope she's not reconsidering… Zahara pulled back slightly and blinked in shock.

Did I just hear him say he hopes I am not reconsidering… But his lips didn't even move… "Nothing's wrong," she told him in an effort to mask her shock. "I am very happy, 'Kura. I look forward to the day we are united as one before Ra." A small part of her decided to test her theory about hearing his voice in her mind. "Why would I reconsider?" Aside from the fact that I am scared to death to be a mother… I want to be… one day… but right now I am scared to be. Her thoughts paused a moment, her eyebrows knitted together in thought. Wait a minute… Why is having a baby so important to him anyway…?

Bakura's eyes widened. Can she read my thoughts? Oh no! What if… what if she knows about… He shook his head slightly. What if she is only saying she won't reconsider in order to spare my feelings? "I just hope you won't. That's all." She sighed and took his hand.

"I wouldn't do that to you, koi. I have secretly cared about you for at least the last year now. I have you after all this time. Why would I want to give that up?" She looked down at the ring on his hand and fingered it lightly with a smile. "Father, said it was ok. He welcomed you when he gave you that." She felt it better to forget about the baby thing at the moment and just focus on what they were facing at that timeinstead.

"I just hope it lasts…" She frowned at his words, but before she could ask him to explain a dog came running through showering sand upon them. Zahara had tried to turn before the sand hit her face, but did not make it in time. She wiped the sand from her eyes, coughing and sputtering as she glared after the dog. "You all right?" Bakura asked her, concerned.

"I am fine…" She looked out at the water. "But I am suddenly in the mood to go swimming." She stood and removed the swimsuit slip cover from around her waist, revealing the daring black and gold bikini she had chosen to wear that day. Slipping off the simple water shoes she had been wearing, she headed toward the ocean. "Anyone care to join me?" She asked before jumping in and letting the water wash over her, taking the sand and her worries away.

"Sounds good to me," Jackie said with a smile as she leapt in to join her.

"Count me in!" Blue added, grinning as Ryou chased after her and into the water as well. Bakura stared after them all for a moment before standing. Aurora and Atem raced passed him, chasing each other as well. Atem loved a challenge as much as Bakura did and because of what Aurora was, he found plenty a challenge in trying to tackle her into the water. A joyful scream from her told Bakura he had finally succeeded. He shook his head trying to figure out just what he had gotten himself into before slipping into the water himself.

Zahara turned to see he had barely gotten into the water and she smiled at him. "Come on- the water's great!" She dove back under and closed her eyes, her smile looking peaceful and serene. Ah… Heaven, she thought.

"She's right," Jackie said. "The water really does feel great!"

"Yay!" Blue exclaimed, popping her head out of the water. "The ocean! The ocean!" She happily began to splash anyone and everyone near her.

"Hey!" Ryou called out as the water struck him. He shook his head and began to splash her back. They did not last long in the water though as Blue and Ryou decided they would rather build sand castles on the beach. Zahara saw that Bakura still had not made any real effort to get into the water any farther than up to his waist and she grinned as a thought came to her mind.

Bakura scanned the water, looking for her, not realizing she had gone under. She swam up behind him and shocked him by popping up and splashing him, before pushing him in and laughing. He pushed himself back up to the surface and gave her his wolfish smirk. Laughing his special "ku ku ku ku" laugh, he swept his arms in the water to bring a wave of it upon her. She squealed as she went under and grabbed him around the waist. His arms came around her and lifted her back up to press her body against his. Her face was slightly pink, but her eyes shown with her true emotions. He saw everything she felt in her eyes. She was no longer just playing games to get his attention. She knew she had it and was now just trying to drive him crazy with need. He was not about to admit that she was succeeding. He could also see the love she felt for him, yet had not expressed in actual words, shining within the depths of those lapis blue orbs. The darkness of the blue color made him feel as though he was falling into space. As he clung to her and leaned in for another deep kiss, he found it was the kind of falling he truly did not mind.

RIJ and Malik were at the house that Bakura and RIJ shared with Blue and Ryou. The ride back from the airport had been a tense one. Malik had noticed right away that Bakura had not been with them and began asking questions. All RIJ would tell him was that he would explain when they got back to the house.

"Okay, we're here, now what is going on with Bakura?" Malik demanded. RIJ went on to describe the actions he had seen out of Bakura the last few months. The dreamy expressions, the sudden disappearances, the sudden lack of interest in the usual chaos and mayhem.

"What's worse is that I saw him staring at a jewelry store the other day," RIJ finished. Malik gave him an odd look.

"Perhaps he was planning a robbery of some sort…"

"No, there has been a girl. A girl he has been sneaking off with. I saw them together on a few times he didn't know I had followed him."

"Who is the girl?"

"I didn't get a good look, but whoever she is, she has changed him. He has swayed. He even jumped to save The Pharaoh's youngest daughter from an attacker. The Pharaoh's youngest daughter! Of all people!" Malik's look darkened. He remembered Zahara. A cruel smile had begun to curve his lips until the full weight of RIJ's words struck him.

"Hmm… Seems he has begun to turn against us."

"I mean, What was he thinking!" RIJ continued, spewing curses and other rambling and ranting. Malik watched RIJ pace back and forth. He could not help the amused smirk on his face. But as quickly as it appeared, it flashed off just the same.

"There's just no evil trio without Bakura…" he mused thoughtfully.

"And now of all times when he is supposed to be finalizing the final plans. We have to get this done." Malik grew quiet a moment. He looked up at RIJ.

"Maybe his being with this girl wouldn't be a bad thing. It could work."

"Not if he has fallen in l… l…" RIJ could not bring himself to say the word as he shuddered. "No, if he has fallen for her, he would not be able to fulfill his end of the deal. He would become useless against Atem. Too preoccupied."

"Then we find him someone else and make the proper arrangements. We will bring him back to the group, don't worry RIJ." Malik turned on his most evil look as his mind put together his next plot. "In fact I believe I have someone in mind. Let's just go and pay her a little visit."

Blue and Ryou took a break from their sand castle to look up at Bakura and Zahara. Ryou still could not believe the change in his Yami. He was amazed at the impact a woman could have on the thief. He shook his head and turned toward Blue.

"How about we go get something to drink?" She smiled and agreed as he helped her up from the sand and she dusted herself off before they headed to the surf club just a few steps away.

"Wow," Blue said as they entered. "It's nice in here." Ryou nodded and looked around.

"It is. I wonder if they sell food here." Blue closed her eyes as she laughed quietly.

"Yeah, they would," she told him, pointing toward the counter. "They would sell food if they sell drinks." Ryou smiled at her.

Zahara couldn't resist trying to get another sneak tickle attack on Bakura while she was so close to him. His eyes snapped open during their kiss and she giggled just before he dunked her under the water. Though shocked, she kept her mouth closed and spun to swim away, knowing he would chase after her. Once she broke the surface and she could place her feet on the ground, she took off running, laughing as she went. Aurora laughed with a slight shake of her head.

"Look at those two," she said lightly to Atem. "It is actually kind of sweet, seeing them like that." Sanura groaned.

"Yeah… as in the kind of sweet that makes you sick," she said as she pretended to gag. Aurora laughed and shook her head again.

Malik shut the door to the car and turned to RIJ, who was lost in thought.

"Ok, we have what we needed, now where do we find him exactly?"

"You mean, you don't know?" Malik asked him. RIJ rolled his eyes.

"Yes, of course I know," he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Malik grinned back at him.

"Then why are you asking?" RIJ slapped his forehead and groaned.

"Never mind, I'll just try using my mental link with Blue."

Aurora turned to gaze at Atem, who was still pretty quiet. She grinned and splashed him to get his attention. "Are we ready to plan for this wedding?" He looked at her, wiping the water off his face.

"I don't know… Are we?" They turned as they heard Zahara scream out ad saw that Bakura had finally caught up with her, tackling her, causing the both of them to go rolling in the sand. Bakura brought Zahara closer to him and laughed as he brought her face near for yet another kiss. Aurora looked around and noticed Blue and Ryou in the surf club. Atem's eyes narrowed. "I wonder where RIJ is…"

"Why?"

"He and Bakura used to be inseparable. Always there to bring trouble. Ever since Bakura and Zahara started seeing each other, I haven't seen RIJ at all. Can't help but wonder if he knows. And if he does, what he thinks about it."

"Point taken."

Malik watched as RIJ concentrated, searching for Blue.

"I think I am getting through to her…" Malik's eyes brightened a moment.

I love you, Ryou.

I love you, Blue.

RIJ frowned. "Maybe I'll wait a little while…" Malik could not help the incredulous smirk that swept over his face as he shook his head at RIJ.

Zahara broke the kiss and pulled back to smile down at Bakura. "Who'd have thought it? You and me?" Her smile faded slightly. Atem had not realized that his thoughts had been echoed by his daughter. "So… um… What does RIJ think of all this? Has he said at all? And I heard that... Malik was in town. Have you had the chance to tell him?" Worry entered the edge of her eyes and constricted her heart at the mere thought of Malik's name. Her memories of their last meeting still fresh in her mind, as if it had hapened only a day before.

Bakura's eyes bugged out for a moment at her question. "RIJ?" Damn, he thought. He doesn't know ANYTHING about this… oh no… "Wait… Did you say Malik was in town?" She nodded explaining that she had over heard Blue and Ryou complaining about it earlier in the day before he had joined them at the beach. He looked away from her, his heart suddenly freezing in his chest. If Malik is here, then RIJ will be looking for me… This will be bad… he looked back at her, sitting up from the sand and taking her hands. The intensity in his eyes startled her. "Zahara, we have to go. Now!"

Malik was beginning to grow impatient. "So do you know where Bakura is yet?"

"Not really, I did hear Blue say something about ordering food…" Malik rolled his eyes again, the sarcasm clearly evident.

"…That helps…"

"Actually, it does," RIJ told him with a grin.

"How so?"

"They ordered something that you can only get at one place."

"And that would be…?" The grin turned to an evil smirk as RIJ grabbed his keys back from Malik, who instinctively reached to grab them back. RIJ kept them out of his friend's reach and ran to the driver's side of the car. Malik hung his head and hesitantly opened the passenger door.

"You'll see." RIJ promised him. "And because Bakura always seems to be near where Ryou goes, we will go to the restaurant and drop Bakura a visit…"

OK... now a true challenge for Bakura and Zahara comes up... But we have to ask... What concerns Bakura so much more about this? RIJ is supposed to be his best friend after all... And Malik as well... (at least in this fic they are the best of friends- lol)...