Didn't think so. I had uploaded this on time (or so I thought) but when I checked again, it appeared not to be uploaded. Maybe I'm losing more of my mind…Maybe I'm uploading this for a second time! Please email me if this happens again.

Chapter 14: Simply Irresistible

Jounouchi stood practically shocked; the finger he had pointed accusingly had long ago dropped. Kaiba still stood calmly, his deep blue eyes not conveying any of his thoughts, which in effect almost drove the blonde mad.

"Aren't you going to say something?" Jounouchi finally asked, confused why he still had yet to speak.

Kaiba merely shrugged. "Like what? You're right?"

He let out a sigh. "Anything but that."

"I've told you everything you've wanted to know."

"Yeah, but you said you wouldn't lie."

"And I haven't."

"You said you lived downstairs!" he said quickly.

Kaiba again looked at Jounouchi slowly before the blonde narrowed his gaze.

"That's not fair! How was I supposed to automatically infer that downstairs was a reference to Hell?"

Kaiba sighed. "You weren't."

Jounouchi stared at him again for a long while; neither was sure how much time had gone by. This was way too much to take in. Kaiba? A demon? As in, the strange beings that wanted to destroy earth? Didn't they carry pitchforks or something?

"What is it?" Kaiba finally asked, his intense cobalt gaze never faltering. "Let's not pretend here. I'm a demon, and you're a human being. We're not supposed to interact."

"You're right," Jounouchi agreed quietly. Then slowly, he closed the gap between them until he was standing only a few inches away. He stood there a few more minutes thinking, contemplating. Then, he let out a relived breath. "But who really cares? I mean, you saved my life… and that makes you all right in my book."

The demon rubbed his temple. "Please don't remind me."

Jounouchi raised an eyebrow. "You know, you could smile once in a while. People might get a better impression of you."

Kaiba glared just a bit. "What if I don't want them to?"

This was not happening! Why did the crazy stuff always happen to him? Jounouchi finds out his true identity and all he can say is 'you should smile'?

"Jounouchi, doesn't it bother you?" he inquired slowly, still a little put off by Jounouchi's calm reverie. Most people would've run away screaming.

"What?" Jounouchi said. "That you're a demon? Well, to me, it's just a label. People are labeled all the time, but it doesn't always mean they're how you'd expect them to be. There is something I'd like to know, though..." His face was dead serious.

Kaiba was a bit wary. "What?"

"Do you guys really carry pitchforks?"

Again, he looked at him like he was stupid. "I don't, but a few do."

"I knew it! But…" Jounouchi focused his honey eyes on the floor and he suddenly looked sad. "Did you come to kill me?"

Well, talk about unexpected. Kaiba had thought that the only two faces the blonde possessed were happy and confused. "No."

"Then... why do you keep coming back?"

Kaiba was really caught off guard with that one. Clearing his throat, he turned and took a seat on the couch. "Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Great," he brushed an errant lock of gold out of his eyes. "Now you're mad at me again."

"Why would you get that idea?" That was inquired very skeptically.

"See? Every time you get upset, you glare a little, and your mouth tightens. Trust me," he flashed the smile that Kaiba thought more suited him, maybe even more preferred. "I've seen that look a lot not to know what it means."

Kaiba cracked a small joke of his own unintentionally. "It's good to know you've kept a close watch on my eyes and mouth."

"How could I not?" Jounouchi's eyes went wide. "I mean, how could I not, since you're always glaring and making fun of me?"

Kaiba smiled just a little. "Right."

"Do you really have black wings?" Jounouchi questioned, sitting down beside him.

"I thought we agreed that you wouldn't ask any more questions."

"We didn't agree on anything," he said with a grin. "But if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay." He turned to a small coffee table and grabbed up a magazine.

The demon was bemused. "Are you serious?"

"Well, yeah. I'm not one to pry. If you don't want to talk, you don't have to." And then Jounouchi shrugged. "It's not like you really talk a lot anyways, or anything. Me? I talk all the time."

"So I've noticed."

"Oh," he bit his lip. "Sorry."

Kaiba just sighed. "Don't be. I don't why I subject myself to this lunacy."

"Don't kid yourself. You just want to be around me." He laughed, clearly indicating he was joking, but Kaiba thought about it and had to wonder if that was somehow true.

He sincerely hoped it was not.

"You really don't have any more questions?" Kaiba asked, a little unconvinced.

Jounouchi looked up from the magazine, seemingly in deep thought. "Nope. You told me you were a demon and they carry pitchforks... That's really all I wanted to know."

Okay...Most people, when given the chance, wouldn't have shut up. They'd have asked about loved ones, or the Apocalypse, what Hell looks like, and whether they might go there—definitely not whether demons carried pitchforks. Sure, Kaiba knew a lot about Jounouchi, but he turned out to be anything except what he had expected.

He was nice, considerate, dense—but in a cute way, and fun. He wasn't like most demons in Hell who just liked him for his looks. Jounouchi didn't even seem to care about that. It really frustrated him. In Hell, he knew what to expect and he knew exactly how to react. Kaiba wasn't stupid; he was very intelligent. He treated everything like it was some sort of intricate math problem. It helped him analyze the situation better. But with Jounouchi, he was almost at a loss for words. He was almost sure that if he asked the blonde what one plus one was, he'd say three.

Jounouchi was definitely one problem he didn't know how to solve.

He reminded him of someone… Of her.

"You're thinking of someone...aren't you?" Jounouchi's question broke the silence.

Kaiba was a bit surprised. For a minute he actually thought he knew who he was thinking of. "Why would you say that?"

Jounouchi set the magazine back down. "Well, I was kind of guessing. I had asked you when we had dinner whether you were in any relationships and you said one. Just now, it looked like you were thinking of an important person."

Kaiba narrowed his gaze a bit and faced forward.

"No, don't do that!" Jounouchi said quickly. "Great...You're mad at me again."

"I told you I didn't want to talk about it."

"Sometimes, it helps—"

"No," he said sternly, blue eyes flashing like crashing waves. Jounouchi even cringed a little.

"I forgot..." he held his hands together and looked at them. "You don't like to talk, but do you think you could listen?" There was no response, so he went ahead. "I've been through my fair share of relationships—some which I remember with fondness, and others I look upon with contempt—but it's not the end. You have to think about future relationships and the fulfillment they can bring. Otherwise, you'll get all scornful and shut off from everybody around you and probably alienate every person you meet thence forth." Now, didn't that sound familiar?

"Jounouchi…How can you possibly say that with such optimism when every relationship you've been in has ended in disaster?"

Okay. Well, Jounouchi hadn't exactly expected that. It didn't seem like he would ever be able to break through Kaiba's cold exterior. Every single time he thought he'd be able to get through to him, the wall would rise even higher than before.

"Kaiba, I like you," he said timidly. "Do you like me…even a little?"(1)

Kaiba looked at him for a brief moment, face still betraying his frustration. Jounouchi was right about what he had said. His walls were high, and he didn't want anyone else getting through.

It was too painful.

That's why he looked at him and easily said, "No."

"I see." Jounouchi lowered his head. "I suppose now you're going to tell me not to take it so personal…"

Kaiba unexpectedly reached up and touched his hair again and the blonde looked up quickly, a trifle perplexed by the sudden contact.

"Another leaf?" he queried, when the demon's hand rested loosely in his saffron strands.

"No," Kaiba said simply and stood, withdrawing both hands to the confinements of his pockets. "Not this time."

"…Oh."

"I'm just curious, but if I were to ask you what one plus one is, how would you reply?"

Jounouchi didn't even take one second to think about it. "Three, of course."

Kaiba looked at him with awe and worry—for his mental health. "…Three?"

"Well, yeah," he said surely. "I'm factoring in the plus sign."

"The plus sign?" Turning, Kaiba shook his head and rubbed his temple again. "…Of course you would."

--

The Overseer walked casually into Marik's quarters, his hands held leisurely behind his back and his emerald eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Good evening," he said casually, looking about the room.

"Yes," Marik glared, "I suppose. What is it you need, Otogi?"(2)

The Overseer could be compared to the Earth's CIA rolled into one demonic being. Whenever things seemed out of place in Hell, he was there to investigate. Things didn't go past him easily either. Naturally, the Overseer was someone with buckets fool of skepticism and mountains of suspicion.

"Actually," he turned his gaze back to Marik's threatening presence, "I had a few questions regarding Bakura."

"Bakura? Why would I know his whereabouts?"

"You're the demon most closely associated with him," Otogi reasoned, finally crossing his arms in front of him. The dark black cloak matched the raven hue of his hair. "Please understand, I know you don't like to be bothered, but there has been small talk around Hell of his disappearance."

Marik's irritated reverie never once faltered. "Disappearance? Surely that's not the case… I actually saw him not that long ago."

The Overseer blinked. "You did?"

"Yes."

It seemed as thought Otogi had not expected to hear this. "Well…where was he?"

Marik smirked slightly here, the mauve of his eyes darkening. "He was with me." He blew lightly on his nails. "Do you…understand what I mean by that?"

Blink. Two. Three. "Well—yes, yes, of course. It's just that no one ever thought—"

"I know. I've just been bored lately. I needed a new playmate." The evil grin never once left his face. "Was that all you needed?"

Otogi nodded and Marik thought he was Scott-free. That it, until The Overseer paused and his jade gaze drifted past him. "Is Bakura here now?"

Marik almost said yes, but decided that was too chancy. "No…"

"Really? Because I swore I heard another's voice in here with you…" Ignoring Marik's further excuses, he walked past him and stopped in front of the four-post bed.

Well, he hadn't exactly expected this.

And Ryou, well, Ryou would've probably been extremely embarrassed if his fury hadn't definitely outweighed it by a long shot.

"How well can you act?"

Was Marik out of his mind? He couldn't just shove him in a closet like a normal demon, or anyone for that matter. Then again, Marik was most definitely anything but normal.

"Hide your wings and play along."

Play along?

As previously stated, Ryou was a calm being. He always had a smile on his face and helped people and he never got angry…until he met Marik. Now this? This made the cake. This was why angels were warned to stay the hell away from Marik.

"Who's this?" Otogi asked, though it was quite clear he found Ryou to be far more alluring than suspicious. Though, considering the current circumstances, that was no shock.

Ryou had indeed hid his wings—that much he had counted on. What he hadn't was his present…position.

Ryou sat on the large bed on his knees with his hands in front helping to support him. Beneath him, the soft, scarlet sheets were a stark contrast to the angel's pale skin. Even more enthralling was Ryou's white hair. It still fell the same, but now over bare shoulders. Ryou wasn't wearing much. Marik had taken the liberty of creating his new attire—or lack of one, which would probably be more appropriate. The white robes were gone, and now what felt to be black silk stopped high above his knees as some sort of mini-skirt. His shirt couldn't even be classified as one. A black leather halter-top stopped above his navel and three large claw marks scratched downward in a slanted line. To make things worse, if that was even possible at this point, black leather shackles encircled his wrists and ankles, chaining him to the four bedposts.

If any other angel saw him like this, they'd have fainted. Ryou really wanted to inflict bodily harm on Marik, but he couldn't. He'd be risking both them and possibly their friends. He had no choice. He would have to make this believable.

"What?" Marik finally asked, he himself almost as a loss for words. Ryou had a great body under all of those robes.

Otogi finally broke his eyes from Ryou and turned to the other demon. "I asked what his name was."

"His name?" He merely shrugged. "I don't know." Walking over, he sat on the edge of the bed. "You know I don't bother with things like that."

"But I thought you and Bakura—"

"It was a one time fling," said Marik, cutting him off. "But like I said, I needed a new toy." He yanked hard on one of the chains pulling Ryou into his lap. "I don't plan on letting this one go. Isn't he pretty?"

His smirk was even more malicious as he said this and Ryou glared and tried to pull away. It was all in vain though as Marik's arm came around and held him tightly around the waist.

"He doesn't seem to like you very much," Otogi stated, an unconvinced expression on his face.

Marik flashed Ryou a warning glance. "He's very stubborn."

"Yes, but everyone else practically throws themselves at you."

"Maybe that's why I like this one. Sure, he's not very affectionate now, but in bed this tiger turns into a purring kitten."

Okay…did Marik want to screw this whole thing up? Ryou was astonished that he would even say something like that!

The Overseer was still cynical. "He really looks like he hates you, Marik."

Ryou really had to fight himself to do what he did next, but he figured it was for the good of Heaven. Reaching up, he placed his hands softly on Marik's shoulders. They had to convince Otogi or the gig was up.

"See?" Marik patted him on the head. "He is such a wonderful pet. Aren't you?"

Ryou remained silent but tightened his grip on Marik's shoulders.

"Say 'yes, Master'," Marik said, seemingly unfazed.

What was Marik doing? Was this all just a game to him?

That demented smirk meant was a definite confirmation.

Ryou bit his lip and muttered, "Yes...Master."

"Well, he does sound familiar—the voice I mean," Otogi finally said. "I can't quite put my finger on it though."

Ryou never imagined his singing would get him into trouble until now. Hopefully Marik could find a way out of it. He even seemed to nod in confirmation to the angel's silent plea.

"Yes, well, you've probably heard him screaming during the later hours. He's quite the vocal creature."

The plan just went right out the window.

Ryou could take no more, so turning to Otogi with a polite grin, he said, "Marik's just trying to get back at me because he couldn't get it up last night." The surroundings were most definitely rubbing off on him.

"Excuse me!" Marik obviously hadn't expected that. It was just as well though. He had been making some unnecessary comments himself. "I'm sorry for his rudeness. Ryou's just upset because—" he leaned closer to the Overseer and whispered, "—he has a small, well, you know…?"

Ryou gasped. "I do not!"

Otogi raised a brow. "Ryou?"

Both Marik and Ryou winced at that mistake. It seemed to be too late though as Otogi looked to be catching on.

"I thought you had forgotten his name?"

The lilac-eyes demon shrugged it off casually. "It must have slipped my mind."

"He shares the same name as the soloist angel from the Bridge Meeting…"

"What are you suggesting," said Marik, a little anger creeping into his voice. "That I somehow slipped some stupid angel down here? What do you take me for?"

"I'm not suggesting anything at the moment. It's just that some other rumors have been spreading that an angel is missing from Heaven..."

"Otogi," Marik looked at him with a level gaze. "If I brought an angel here, don't you think they'd have some objection? I mean, come on. They'd hate me, not adore me."

Otogi frowned slightly. "Well, Ryou doesn't exactly seem to have a lot of affection for you." Even a fool could see that.

"Like I said...he's stubborn."

Otogi still seemed unconvinced, and Marik looked as though he'd thrown in the towel already. That meant it was up to Ryou. But…what could he do? Three words still echoed in his mind.

"Make it believable."

Ryou took a deep breath and leaned up to kiss Marik. Their lips met quickly and Marik sort of gasped out of surprise but caught on, and eagerly returned the action. It was a heated kiss, something Ryou had neither expected nor been prepared for, but then again, he was never prepared for anything when it involved Marik. He knew he couldn't just fudge this though. Reaching an arm around the demon's neck, he pulled him even closer and could feel Marik's lips as they curled into a smirk.

Ryou wanted to be angry with Marik, he really did, but at that moment, he didn't really understand how he felt. Was it…happy? Heavens, no! It couldn't be. Now that would be a crazy assumption.

And Marik? Well, he was gorging himself silly with no intentions of stopping, but, to his dismay, Ryou pulled back. There was a slight trace of pink on his pale cheeks.

"Listen," Ryou said, facing Otogi. "I may not always show it, but…I do care about Marik."

The Overseer considered this carefully and everything else he had witnessed and finally sighed. "You know Marik, he is probably the most odd person you've ever been with... but he seems sincere." He once again held his hands behind his back. "I suppose I'm done here. Next time you see Bakura, tell him to come see me."

There was a flash of emerald light and he was gone.

"Wow," Marik breathed out, "thank Lucifer that's over." He looked down at Ryou who was unusually silent. "That was definitely believable. Even I almost fell for it."

"Take me home please."

"What? You don't want to stay and celebrate?"

"With you?" Ryou sported a cute smile. "I think not."

"No? Then how about we finish what you started…" Marik pulled him closer but the angel again pulled back.

Ryou looked a tad upset. "You are despicable!"

"Why thank you."

"How can you be so composed after something like this? We were almost found out, Marik. Do you know what would've happened if I hadn't played my part correctly?"

The demon just grinned. "I knew you wouldn't let me down."

Ryou went to get off Marik's lap but he tripped on one of the chains and would've fallen, had Marik not grabbed his arm. Ryou looked at him in confusion. Why was he helping him? He was a demon... He was…evil? Marik seemed to read his thoughts as his brows furrowed and he quickly released him, letting the angel crash to the floor.

"Ouch," Ryou mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his head. In Heaven, that wouldn't have hurt at all, but he supposed that because he was in a different dimension, there were whole new rules. "Why did you let me go?"

Marik's glare returned and he looked away from him. He had almost helped an angel. What was he thinking—or not thinking? "You're surprised that I didn't help you? I'd assume you would expect that."

Ryou grimaced and stood. Just for the sake of doing something, he began fiddling with one of the leather cuffs.

"You'll never be able to take that off. That's demonic magic you're tampering with."

"Can you please remove them?"

"I don't know," Marik crossed his arms. "I think I prefer you like this. What you really need is a gag though." With a snap of his fingers, the confinements were gone.

"Thank you." Standing, the angel rubbed at his wrists and accidentally hiked the already short skirt up further.

"You know," Marik eyed him with amusement, "I never got the chance to tell you how incredible you look in that outfit."

Ryou blushed furiously and tried to pull the skirt down a bit. "Give me my clothes back!"

"Would you be furious if I told you they're gone?"

"What do you mean gone?" He looked a bit nervous.

"I mean, you won't get your clothes back until you're back on The Bridge."

"Then I demand you to take me back now!"

"I will…soon. I'm just curious. You see, Otogi is—let's just say, it's hard to fool him. So, how did you convince him that you supposedly cared about me?"

Ryou took a small breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Anyone can act."

"You made me a believer. Thanks for the kiss by the way…" Marik leaned on his knuckles. "For acting, you sure put a lot of feeling into it. Then again, you did owe me one."(3)

"I cannot believe you're still on that." He ran a hand over his face. "I did it to save us both."

"Then hopefully we'll get into trouble again." Ryou flashed Marik a perturbed glance. "Really though, you have a gorgeous frame, why do you have to cover it up all the time."

"Are you really that stupid? We're angels, not prostitutes."

"Could'a fooled me."

"Thank you for the compliment though…" he said quietly.

Marik's eyes gleamed. "Courteous to the end."

Ryou was instantly annoyed again. "But why did you have to imply that I was some sort of sex slave?"

"Why not? That's how things are here in Hell. Even lust in something you have to work for."

"In Heaven, relationships are sacred. When angels fall in love, it's forever."

"When demons fall in love, they're considered insane. Relationships are laughed upon. But, now that we're an item and all, why not consummate the chitchat?"

"I would never even consider sleeping with you," stated Ryou flatly.

"Never? I find that hard to believe." The next moment was a blur but Ryou found himself beneath Marik's strong chest and pinned to the bed.

"Marik, stop this foolishness at once!"

"First, tell me you don't like me."

Ryou didn't look very surprised. "We're back to this again?"

"I have to know. Like Otogi said, I'm not easily rejected. Actually," he ruffled his own bangs, "I can't remember the last time I was."

"You are so conceited."

"Don't change the subject, Ryou. Do you like me? I'm not letting you go until you answer me truthfully."

Ryou believed that. "It doesn't matter anyways. You slept with Bakura."

"That was a lie, but…do I sense jealousy, little angel?"

"You thrive off of breaking people's hearts. I shudder to think of all the demons you've hurt…"

"Demons don't feel pain," he stated plainly.

"…I'm beginning to think they don't feel anything."

"Ryou…" Oh lord, the angel was going into sensitive mode. He had to deter him somehow.

Too late though, as Ryou was the one to transport away from him. Marik stood instantly.

"I should've known you'd lie," the angel said sadly. "Dignity and respect? It was all just a joke to you. I took you seriously. I always go along with what you say. But you…you just toy with everyone, even me. You claim to like me, but I know you don't, and it isn't fair, because I—" Ryou paused here and shook his head. "I should just stay away from you. How did I let myself do this and come here? I need to get away. At least ten years or so…"

"Ten years?" Marik said disbelievingly. He could understand a few days, but years... Besides, he had a bet to win, and he only had three days left to win it. Things were not looking good.

"Marik…can you honestly look at me and say that the reason you want me to stay doesn't involve you at all?"

Marik wanted to lie…he really did, but the words wouldn't come out. It just plain sucked. Marik was respected, and feared—people didn't make him feel guilty. Maybe he was the one who had to reconsider the repercussions of this relationship.

"I didn't think so," Ryou finally said, a few glowing feathers fluttering to the ground as his wings extended from his back.

Marik let all his thoughts go and was standing before Ryou in an instant, a hand firmly over the angel's mouth. "Don't talk all this nonsense. It's just stress. We'll see each other tomorrow and forget this craziness ever occurred."

But Ryou broke their stare and the demon saw a faint trace of tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Was he really getting that upset about all of this?

…Did he like Marik?

Pulling away from him, he held Marik away at arms' length, brown eyes downcast. "I have to go."

"Go?"

But he was too late. Ryou vanished in a shower of white feathers, each turning black then waning as they touched the floor.

This was not good. Marik wasn't good at getting himself out of situations like these, mainly because he usually didn't get into situations like these. But now—now, he decided, he would have to return to earth and consult Bakura on ways to rectify this mistake. Ryou was starting to become a pain.

Still, it only seemed to make the angel even more irresistible.

--

Meanwhile, Jounouchi was at the stove scrambling some eggs and burning the toast as usual. Kaiba sat leisurely on the couch reading. When Jounouchi had inquired on how Kaiba had come upon such a book, the demon had merely said that he brought it from home.

There were still so many things Jounouchi wanted to learn about him. Even something currently seemed out of place.

"I didn't know you wore glasses…" he said, turning down the heat.

Kaiba looked up at him over the thin frames. It was strange how they only seemed to make him look even more intimidating. "I don't."

"But you're wearing them right now."

Sighing, Kaiba closed his book and took off his glasses, folding them and putting them in a pocket in his jacket. "I only used to need them to read…when I was alive." He stood. "It seems as though this extra time spent here has somehow caused a minor setback. I'm sure it's only temporary."

"Wow, so being around me has almost turned your whole existence upside-down?"

Kaiba just glowered. "You have no idea."

"So you won't stay for dinner then?" Jounouchi asked, scraping the eggs out of the pan.

"Eggs for dinner? I think not."

"Well, okay then. Listen, though. Can you stop by tomorrow?"

"Why?"

The blonde only grinned. "There's someone I'd like you to meet." He folded his hands together. "Please? At least consider it…?"

Kaiba sighed again, which he found he was doing quite a lot lately, and placed his hands in his pockets. "Very well. I'll consider it, but I won't make any promises."

"Of course not." Jounouchi faked one of Kaiba's stern glares. It was kind of pathetic.

But kind of…funny?

Oh, this kid was most definitely trouble. But who was it that Jounouchi wanted him to meet? Kaiba had a strange feeling that it was a girl.

oooTBCooo

(1)- When Jou asks this, he doesn't really mean "like" in the sense of a crush, but more just liking in general (even though Kaiba thinks he means it the other way). Jou is straight currently. He dated three girls Not for long tho.

(2)- Yeah, not sure why I made Otogi the Overseer. He'll have a few more parts later though so I thought it'd be better to give him a name and face than to just call him "The Overseer" all the time.

(3)- Reference to Ch.4 when Marik proposes that Ryou either kiss him or be his bed slave. Both seemed to be fulfilled :)

Long chapter. That's how they should all be TT I will force myself to put YY in the next chapter. This chap. as supposed to be more SJ but MR took over. I had no control. BM will also be in the next. Kudos to anyone who can guess who the girl will be. 3 to 4 days for the next update…godwilling.

AmethystRoze