Oh wow. Please don't hate Kaiba yet. He's got a good reason for "going cookoo for coco-puffs", shall we say. His past is by far the darkest; it should come out in the next few chaps, but wait till you get to everyone else's. This story is going to start roller coasting as far as happy, sad, and dark parts are concerned. Can you believe this story might only be halfway finished? It will be my longest so far for sure.

Thanks ManatheAuthoress for going through and reviewing those chapters! I checked my email and was like, whoa... You keep me amused, which is awesome. Actually, you all keep me amused. I actually worry about some of you...

Chapter 8: The Devil Made Me Do It

"Thanks for coming over, Yugi," Jounouchi smiled, holding the door for his friend.

"It's no problem at all, Jou," Yugi answered, a calming smile on his face. Walking in, he dropped his book bag by a couch that he promptly sat in. "Well, you said you needed to talk to me?"

"Well yeah," he brushed it off as though it were nothing. "Did you call me last night?"

"I did, but why do I get the feeling that's not what you invited me over to talk about?" Yugi's expression was skeptical, but that teasing smile still remained.

"Um," Jounouchi loosed his collar, and sat down as well, "I had guessed so."

"Jounouchi, are you all right?" the shorter boy asked, face suddenly filled with worry.

"I'm fine, it's just... you'd never guess what happened to me last night."

Yugi made an odd face, one of his fine brows arching quite a bit. "Do I want to know?"

"Naa, it's nothing like that," he gave him a smirk. "But it, well, it's weird to explain."

"Well, when you're ready, I'm listening," he said patiently, braiding his fingers together and flashing a benevolent grin.

That was the thing about Yugi that Jounouchi appreciated the most. Yugi was patient with him, often at times when the blonde couldn't quite figure out what to say, like now, which happened quite a lot. Jounouchi wasn't the most articulate person alive; actually he wasn't very articulate at all when it came to strange matters and he had this habit of saying the wrong thing, or saying the right thing but making it sound wrong.

Like I said, he wasn't very articulate.

Yugi, on the other hand, was very eloquent and communicative. His scores on tests were always high and his hand was raised for almost every question. Yugi, though, was what some people would call cute. His looks had never really been very masculine at all.

His frame was small and somewhat lanky, with thin wrists and arms, and small, but slim, legs. His hair was fashioned in a very unusual manner. Velvety black locks shot upward, outlined in a deep scarlet, and then, long, golden tendrils framed his face. The bullion hair complimented Yugi's most attractive feature of all- His eyes. They were an extraordinary mix of plum and ruby and always seemed to be shining tolerantly, as though waiting for one's troubles to be poured out.

Yugi had been with Jounouchi through almost all of his life crisis. When Jounouchi moved out- he was there, when Jounouchi broke up with someone- he was there. He was just always present. The most peculiar thing was... Yugi never needed help himself. It was like his life was utterly perfect, like nothing could go wrong. Jounouchi used to be envious of him for it, making his feelings known in physical abuse more commonly known as "bullying" and it wasn't until the blonde realized that Yugi accepted it all with a smile that he finally apologized and eventually became his friend.

Still, there are some things that you can't even tell your friends, and an attempt to end one's life can fall into that category.

"Yug'," Jounouchi finally said, looking up to face him. "Last night..." he sighed, finally giving up, "I almost killed myself."

Yugi's reaction was immediate. "Oh my gosh, Jou, are you okay?" he asked, already up and standing in front of his friend. "Why would you have done something like that!"

Jounouchi help a hand. "Well, I didn't exactly. It's not like I could go through with it."

"To think I almost lost my best friend! Jou, why didn't you call me to talk? You know I'd listen. That's what friends do..."

"I know, Yugi. I'm sorry, too."

Sometimes, Yugi reminded Jounouchi of a parent-friend, someone who's like your pal and parent at the same time. It was a calming feeling though, and Jounouchi rather felt relieved about it.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Jou. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you..." Finally Yugi breathed a tired sigh and took a seat beside his friend. "... Did you do it because of your latest breakup?"

"No, no," Jounouchi answered. "It was nothing like that. I'm over that now anyways. Just the pain of being alone remains now."

"But Jounouchi, you're not alone," Yugi said quickly, eyes wide and worrisome. "You've got friends who care about you and parents who love you."

The blonde smiled, skeptical of his friend's never-ending faith. "Yeah...I know."

"Well, why did you stop?" he asked slowly, almost afraid to.

Jounouchi blinked, looking quickly at Yugi with slight apprehension. How exactly was he going to explain this? A strange guy came out of nowhere and rang his doorbell because he "thought he needed his help"? It was crazy!

He finally settled with "I was interrupted", hoping Yugi would end the conversation right there.

Of course, he didn't.

"By what?"

"...A guy."

"...A guy?"

"...A guy."

"A guy," Yugi repeated once more, still not sure what to make of the answer. "Well, who was he?"

Heh. Yeah... Who was he exactly? ""Kaiba" was his name."

"Well did you know him?"

Jounouchi shook his head. "Not until last night."

"So how did he stop you, then?"

"He rang the doorbell and sort of barged in. I dunno. It just kind of happened."

Yugi's worry was increasing by the second. "Jou, I can't believe you let a stranger into your apartment! He could've been a murderer!"

Yep. Good 'ol Yugi. Always thinking of the Worst-Possible-Case-Scenario. It really helped to get the blood flowing when you didn't want to be reminded of those things.

"Well I'm alive, aren't I?" the blonde finally asked.

"And thankfully. Then what?"

This was all starting to get almost funny. So funny, in fact, that Jounouchi couldn't help neither the smirk nor the next comment that flowed from his lips. "And to think I was only in a small towel."

"Oh my god!" Yugi exclaimed, one hand covering his mouth. "What if he had been a rapist, Jou! What happened next?"

"And then, well, he cleaned up my arm and..." he was really in a teasing mood, "And he thrust the napkin in his pocket and said he'd use it to frame me for murder!"

"No!" Yugi cried. "Jou we have to stop him! I told you he was a murderer! How did you make it out alive?"

"Well... I'm still not sure," he sighed. "The last thing I remember though is him coming toward me with a kitchen knife." He literally watched Yugi's expression morph to one of horror. "And then I woke up naked."

Yugi jumped out of the chair like a rocket taking off. "We have to call the cops! I don't know how you've managed to keep it together this long! My goodness," he held his face. "I'd shudder to think what he did to you."

Jounouchi finally broke down and laughed, almost regretting upsetting his friend that much. "Yug', I was kidding. I let him in and he helped me. I did pass out but he didn't do anything to me."

It took a moment for it all to seep in, but Yugi eventually blushed in slight anger before a smile of his own reappeared. "That was not funny."

"Naa, you know it was."

"So who is this Kaiba character anyway? How did he know?" he sat down again.

Jounouchi could only shrug. "I don't know; that's the crazy part. He said he lives here though; downstairs I believe."

"Really?" Yugi looked a little surprised. "Thank goodness he came along when he did, and how odd he knew you needed help, hn?"

"Hn. I guess..."

"I just...Had a feeling that you needed my help."

"You know though," said Yugi, speaking up, "I'd check with the landlord just in case. You can never be too careful."

"If it'll calm you down, I will. I don't know, I think I trust him."

"Really? But you just met him," Yugi said skeptically. "Trust is built up over time."

This surprised him a lot. He'd known Jounouchi for a long time now; they knew each other. Jounouchi was never really someone who trusted others easily. He more liked to take the safe approach... So why on earth was he getting involved with a stranger?

Yugi wasn't really one of those people who were very social. Sure, he had a few friends, but when it came down to it, he preferred to remain invisible. He treasured friendship almost more than life itself though. He'd never had many friends, mostly because he wasn't very open or even brave, and he was used to life like that. He was the perfect companion though, and he would never turn down someone in need. That's why he and Jounouchi were such good friends.

"Here's what I figure," said the blonde, stretching slightly. "When Kaiba comes back tonight, I'll have talked to the landlord so everything will work itself out from there. No worries."

Yugi's relieved grin finally returned. "Right. No worries."

Yugi did leave not too long after that, but not before lecturing Jounouchi on how if he ever needed anything again to just call him, instead of doing anything irrational, and that Jounouchi really meant a lot to him as a friend. He'd still be back though the next day to check up on him. After all, a particular demon would be paying him a visit.

Bakura sat quietly on the steps, the light from above showering over him. It was warm, and oddly so, because it felt as though it were warming his soul. After being dead for so long, he hadn't really remember feeling anything for a long time. Sure, once in a while, the glimpse of a forgotten past would just barely breathe upon him, but it would be gone and once again he would forget.

Demons and angels are alike in that sense. Their pasts are forgotten; the life they once lived is erased. It's supposed to be that way. It's like starting fresh, beginning a new slate. Nothing should be able to taint it. Of course, there are a few exceptions.

Kaiba, as the renowned Teller, knows what will come to pass and occasionally what has already been. It wasn't long until his own history was revealed to him, as painful as it was. Then there was Ryou, the very Keeper of Secrets. He knew every single time past that had occurred, the ones that made him happy and the ones he couldn't bear. Of course, it was only natural that he knew his own.

Looking behind him, Bakura scowled slightly at the sight of the church that sat gloriously at the end of the steps. How on earth did he keep ending up there? Well, he'd have to go back to the apartment sometime anyways.

"Oh, but what's the rush?" he muttered grouchily, turning back to face the sidewalk.

"Surely you weren't planning on staying forever? You belong in Hell, Bakura. Don't let this human cloud your judgment."

Marik was right. Had he actually been thinking that? He knew he couldn't stay... There was, well, there was smog! Oh, and there was litter, not to mention the stray animals probably horribly infected with rabies... Who would even want to live on earth?

"People don't live on earth for the litter, Bakura," a voice said before him. "They live here for the other people."

Bakura looked up quickly, immediately recognizing the voice and then the face. "What are you doing here, Kaiba?" It still freaked him out that he seemed to be able to read his mind.

Kaiba raised a brow, but his face was stoic. "I should ask you the same thing. I'm here because I have unofficial business to take care of. And yourself?"

Bakura stood up and dusted off his hands. "The same," he said with a smirk. "But I didn't sense your aura... You're here on borrowed power. Planning on staying long?"

Kaiba sighed and crossed his arms. "Not really. Just a simple matter that needs to be terminated."

"Termination, I see," he said somewhat uncaringly. Normally the word would've spiked some interest in him. He suddenly paused, "But while you're here, what was that prophecy all about? The sun and moon? I didn't quite understand."

"There's no need to worry about it. It probably doesn't concern you anyway. The prophecies have this strange way of fulfilling themselves unbeknownst to anyone."

"Oh, well, I guess that's reassuring."

"Yes, well, I have to go." Kaiba turned to leave, but stopped for a moment. "And Bakura, don't get yourself caught."

Bakura blinked, somewhat confused, before realization sunk in. "I won't, you blasted demon!"

But as usual, Kaiba was already gone.

"Damn him," Bakura sulked, mumbling horrible curses and earning odd glances from those who strolled casually by him. He was still standing on church steps after all.

Thrusting his hands into his pockets, he grumbled all the way back to the apartment. Opening the door, he noticed that the lights were off and assumed Malik hadn't returned yet. That's why, after taking a seat, he nearly killed Malik when he jumped into the room, smile on his face, and a very weird frilly white apron on.

"Welcome back, Bakura!" he said cheerfully. "Did you enjoy your time out?"

Bakura's eyes were wide. "...I suppose," he said warily. "Why?"

"I was just wondering. Oh, yeah. I almost forgot." Running into the kitchen for a quick moment, he came back in with a small tray. "I made you these while you were gone."

Bakura peered cautiously at the tray noticing strangely shaped cookies. They were one word: Scary.

"What in Hell's fire are they?"

Malik sat them on the table and untied the apron. "Well... I tried to shape them like you but it didn't quite work out."

Bakura poked a cookie. "Yes, I can see that."

"Lookie!" Malik held up one of the cookies. "I even added little devil wings, since you remind me of a demon half the time." He had to try and cheer him up so he wouldn't fall so hard when he announced his soon departure.

The demon smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment." Picking up one of the cookies from the tray, he took a deep breath. "Are these safe to eat?"

"Hey, la prova é nel gusto!" Malik said confidently. "The proof is in the taste!"

Bakura nodded and bit off a corner of the small cookie. Two chews were all it took. "...Oh my god," he swallowed hard, eye trembling.

Malik immediately became disheartened. "It didn't taste good?"

"Hell no." He wasn't going to lie, but immediately his conscience took ahold of him. And since when did he have a conscience? "It was just..." he bit his lip, "One of the best cookies I've ever eaten…What do you say we eat out tonight?"

"Bakura... we have no money."

"Oh yeah." Of all the wretched things!

Suddenly there was this strange bell sound that continued for a moment, that abruptly stopped. Then it began again, but once again stopped.

"What is it?" Malik wondered, looking around to see what was causing it.

"How should I know?" Bakura asked, looking around as well.

Once again it sounded and both Malik and Bakura turned to face the object sitting on the table. It wouldn't quit; it just kept ringing. Finally, Malik reached out and picked it up, and just like that, the ringing stopped.

"Whoa," said the angel, unsure what to do next. Pulling the object to his ear, he made a curious face. "Hello?"

Bakura watched with interest as Malik began speaking into the strange item. Moments later, he put the phone down, a grin on his face. "I don't know how, but somehow Jounouchi was in there and he invited us to dinner tonight!"

"Yes! A free meal!" Bakura said, almost exasperated. Oh, thank heavens this opportunity came their way. Bakura wasn't too keen with the idea of eating those cookies for dinner... if they could even be called that.

"It was awfully nice of him," pondered Malik. "He said he'd have a guest he'd like us to meet."

"A guest?" Bakura repeated, not as enthusiastic as before. "Who?"

"I don't know. He didn't say."

"...I'm here because I have unofficial business to take care of..."

Bakura dropped the cookie. "Oh shit."

Kaiba! Kaiba was the mystery guest! What if he saw Malik and told everyone in Hell? Bakura would have to tell Jounouchi that they couldn't come.

"I said we'd be at his place within the hour," added Malik.

"Why did you do something like that!" Bakura questioned him madly.

"Because it's the courteous thing to do." He looked befuddled. "One minute you're excited and the next you're not... What's with you?"

Bakura rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Nothing."

"Ok then, well, hurry up and eat the rest of the cookies. We're not leaving until you do."

This comment made him still immediately. "What?...You mean, the cookies you made?" No... this couldn't be happening.

"Bakura," Malik smirked, "There shouldn't be a problem. They are, after all, the best cookies you've ever eaten..."

After Malik left to go get changed, Bakura nearly launched the cookies out of the window, but he just couldn't do it. They did look like him sort of, in any case; they were kind of like a chibi version of himself...with a hunchback. Gah! But that was not what was important at the moment!

They were about to have dinner with a very notorious demon- one who, if he saw Malik, would almost assuredly relate the incident to everyone in the depths of the Underworld! That meant only one thing...

Bakura was going to have to do everything in his power to stop them from seeing one another.

...TBC...

This chapter was hilarious. Jou actually does find out in the next chapter that Kaiba doesn't live there and an interesting bit follows. The only other bad thing is that Bakura doesn't know that if Malik sees Kaiba, he'll recognize him. Thanks you guys for reading this story. Me love you long time.

AmethystRoze