So this one is a slightly shorter chapter, but I tried to make up for it with the quicker update! I'm so happy I got a lot of positive feedback from the last chapter and also, that most everyone caught onto the fact that I was purposefully trying to make it hard to figure out exactly who I was going to pair Ryou with. I had fun writing a lot of little out-of-context moments that could have been interpreted in the wrong way. I'm also glad that the people who wanted Yugi for Ryou were fine with my choice. This chapter mainly focuses on the two couples, so hopefully that won't discourage anyone from reading it. Thank you to all of my reviewers: I love each and every one of you.
TaleneIsMyYami: As my first reviewer for this chapter, I was certainly happy to read your comments. I really needed to hear that the serious parts didn't overpower the fun ones especially.
XAbunaiX(): Good to hear you still like it anyways.
Lunar Heart: Yay! Another person who said I had good balance! Heh heh, it's so much fun leading people in the wrong direction. I figured it would be a little more interesting to have a bit of a surprise like that.
Vappa: The thing with Kaiba is something very small and simple that will come in the next chapter, but the hints at what's wrong with Bakura as well as Yami is me trying to actually plan ahead in the storyline for once and will come a little later, but not too much.
Lyn/Lin: No, Bakura is not sick, but there is something wrong with him and Yami as many have suspected. But I'm not going to tell, bwahahaha!!! *cough* Anyway, here's the next chapter for you.
Dreaming Child: Sorry for the misleading storyline, I just couldn't help myself!
major-rocket-fan: Yay! You liked the beginning! No one else said anything about it, so I couldn't tell if I was being funny or just plain mean to Kaiba. I really do like Kaiba, but there are certain things that are just so easy to pick on. Kaiba fans please don't kill me!
Starlit Hope: Woohoo! Another person who enjoyed the prank.
Kami Beverly: Hm, another one asking about what's wrong with Bakura. Should I tell? *smacks self* Don't give away the ending!
trefenwyd12: I love the fact that my fic got you to read a little bit of shounen-ai!
Tetral2(): Heh, *rubs back of head in embarrassment* yeah, I'm not very good at writing those kissing scenes, so they don't happen very often, but there's a couple in this chapter!
Rei Mayonaka: I think Ryou and Malik are very cute together as well, probably my favorite one with Ryou. Him or Kaiba, I've read some really good Ryou/Kaiba fics.
Whew, okay on with the chapter!!
Chapter 18
Not So Surprising Surprises
"But, how did you know?"
"I never said that I knew, I just suspected."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"It wasn't my place." I let out a loud, frustrated sigh and cross my arms. I had assumed that telling Yami about Malik and Ryou would've surprised him, but apparently I was wrong.
"You're right of course." I concede, rolling my eyes.
"Besides, wasn't it better to hear it from Ryou himself?"
"I guess so."
"Exactly, so you can't be mad at me." Yami crawls over to where I am sitting on my bed and curls up against me in a very cat-like manner.
"I'm not mad at you." I flick at the side of his head for thinking like that. "I guess I was just annoyed that he decided to tell Yugi before me. That and the fact that telling me yesterday, which was much too long and frustrating, probably wasn't such a good idea." Ryou's amazing ability to keep this entire thing hidden from me for so long is also really starting to bother me. That or I was just being stupid. Either possibility is perfectly plausible. As Yami snuggles against me though, my anger is quickly dissipated by his warmth.
"I'm sure he had his reasons. You have to remember that Yugi was his only close friend for a while. Most likely, he just wanted to talk to someone about it and everyone knows how you can be about such sensitive topics."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." He obviously sounds guilty, even as he buries his face into my chest trying to hide it.
"Are you implying that I'm some sort of insensitive bastard?" There's a muted laugh from Yami and he wraps his arms around my torso.
"No, of course not."
"Are you lying to me?" I exclaim sarcastically.
"I would never lie to you." He raises his head up to look me straight in the eyes and smirks. He holds the smirk for a second and then shifts his eyes away, but as he does, his smile changes for a fraction of a second and I catch a fleeting glimpse of something else. He must still feel bad about lying to his friends about us. He instantly turns back with the same enthusiastic evil grin. "Maybe just omit certain things."
"Sure, sure." I think it's about time to leave this hopeless argument. "On another note, how do you want to tell Malik about us? It seems Ryou decided not to tell him about that. I've come to notice that he's very good at not telling people things."
"I don't know." He tries to look thoughtful while he thinks about it for a moment. "Maybe, when they come here from school together, I could be wearing some skimpy black thing and you could be chained to the wall and then I could find that whip I lost a while back and-"
"Woah, don't get so carried away. Do you really want to scar them? And who would be the one chained to the wall, now?" I quirk an eyebrow at him, attempting to reassert my dominance.
"I was just joking, really I was." Yami's carefree grin suddenly morphs into something entirely evil. "So, do you think that Malik and your innocent little hikari do the same things that we do?"
"What?"
"I mean, maybe Ryou isn't so innocent anymore." He says slowly and steadily. The meaning of his words finally clicks and a rush of mental images flood through my mind, images I never wanted to even consider conceiving.
"Oh Ra, I hope not!" Yami bursts out laughing and I shove his shoulder back. "That was just terrible Yami! What if I said the same things about Yugi?"
"You should've seen the look on your face! It was just perfect! Such a gradual transformation, I could watch every step of disturbing realization!" And once again, Yami is overcome by another fit of laughter. "You looked absolutely stricken with horror and your eyes, they got so damn big!"
"I hate you." I declare simply, still attempting to rid my mind of the incredibly wrong thoughts involving my hikari.
"I know. Now, come on, we should probably be properly dressed before they get here." He stands up, offering his hand to me.
"Aww, do we have to?" I take his hand and pull him back down onto my bed, pinning him beneath me. "We have lots of time before school is over and besides, you must pay for such an evil transgression."
I lower myself down, kissing and biting at the place on the curve of Yami's neck that I know will sway his control the most. "I suppose I can be persuaded."
Heh, I know exactly how to win in this sort of situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Bakura, I'm home." I break off my kiss with Yami and sit up.
"Was that Ryou?" I say quietly, straining to listen for any other possible hallucinations of my mind.
"I don't know." Yami whispers back. "It's way too early for school to be over. You're just hearing things."
"Are you home?" This time, Ryou's voice comes through loud and clear.
"Holy shit, it is Ryou!" I try to jump off the bed, but in my panic, end up getting tangled in the sheets and fall in an ungraceful heap on the floor. "I promised him I would be here when he got home, so he knows that I'm around somewhere."
Yami gets up and frantically starts getting dressed. "Why are they here so soon?"
"I have no idea, but I told him that I would be presentable and civil towards Malik when he came and I'm certainly not presentable!" Finally freeing myself from the sheets, I start to throw on my clothes as well. "Don't worry though, Ryou won't come in here if the door is closed."
"But we can't make him wait too long." Yami runs over to the mirror and endeavors to smooth his ruffled hair. I move behind him after slipping on my socks, sharing the small amount of leftover mirror space with his oversized hair.
"Your hair is a total mess!" He laughs at me and takes the brush off the dresser.
"Whose fault is that?" While Yami brushes out my hair, I button up my shirt as fast as possible.
"No one's but your own." I turn around, fully intending to argue back, but Yami grabs hold of my shirt, stopping me.
"You were off a button when you buttoned up your shirt!" Yami informs me, proceeding to unbutton my shirt again.
"Ah, you're right! How'd I manage to do that?" His nimble fingers button my shirt correctly with great speed and then he pushes me towards the door.
"You're hopeless, you know."
"Wait, but what about you?" I ask, noting his still open shirt.
"I'll be down in a minute, I've just got to finish with all of my buckles."
"You and your damn buckles!" He shoots an irritated, but forced glare in my direction and opens the door, giving me a rather violent shove out. I look back at him and he smiles as he shuts the door in my face.
I fly down the stairs and find Ryou with Malik in the kitchen. "What took you so long? Wait, don't answer that." Ryou says when I slide in, skidding across the tile floor with my remaining momentum from running.
"Why are you home so early anyway?"
"Today was a half day at school. I know I told you about it."
"Oh, right." Ryou rolls his eyes, shaking his head slightly.
"You're hopeless."
"Believe me, I know." Agreeing sarcastically, Yami's earlier comment coming to mind.
Before anything else can be said though, all of our attention is diverted towards Yami who slides into the kitchen much in the same manner as myself, with one exception: he can't seem to stop himself. I yell aloud as Yami comes crashing into me. We end up in a, what I'm sure must look ridiculous, pile on the floor.
Ryou stares at us both, stunned, while we try to regain our composure and maybe some dignity as well. "I take it back. You're both hopeless."
Malik is still in a slightly bewildered state, as I gaze over at him while rubbing at some already forming bruises from Yami. Yami leans over and quietly apologizes, but I'm not going to let that little incident deter me from confronting Malik. "So, Malik, I hear you've corrupted my innocent, little hikari."
My comment serves to break Malik out of his trance, but also to piss off Ryou. "Bakura!"
"I wasn't being serious!" I raise my hands in casual defense, now thinking that starting off with a joke was a mistake.
"See what I mean about being insensitive." Yami mumbles, just loud enough so that I can hear him and elbows me in my ribs.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." I watch as Malik smiles deviously and wraps his arms around Ryou's waist.
"Come now, Ryou. You can't be mad at him if it's true. Though, in my opinion, it's you who has done most of the corrupting." Ryou turns bright red and hides his face in his hands.
I can't help but laugh aloud. It really is funny to see Ryou embarrassed like this after all. Malik rests his chin on Ryou's shoulder and discreetly winks at me and Yami. I see he enjoys torturing Ryou as much as I love to do the same to Yami. I'll play along.
I wait until Ryou uncovers his face, still tinged with blush, but certainly not like it was before. "Ryou, is this true? I can't believe that you would be the type to go for whips, chains, leather, and other various unconventional items. If this is what dating Malik results in, then I might just have to object to your relationship altogether."
I manage to keep a straight face through my entire imitation of a parental rant, unlike Malik over there. Ryou has turned a shade of red I have never thought he was capable of producing and if he wasn't being held onto by Malik, he'd probably be strangling me by this point in time. "Really Ryou, this is just unacceptable behavior, especially coming from you." I let myself smirk slightly, deciding that Ryou is entirely fed up with me teasing him. "But, as long as it makes you happy, you can behave however you want with whomever you want."
Ryou's angry scowl turns into a relieved smile, most likely because I stopped purposefully embarrassing him. But, I should still add something to make up for that last uncharacteristic remark. I turn and glare straight at Malik, pointing a warning finger at him and trying to sound as threatening as possible given the situation. "And if I ever find out that you've used the Millennium Rod to manipulate him or hurt him in any other way, you will spend the rest of eternity in the Shadow Realm and I will make sure to send someone enjoyable with you, like Anzu."
Malik's eyes go quite wide and he stands up straight, letting go of Ryou. "I would never do anything like that to Ryou!" Hm, he sounded offended.
"Don't threaten!" Yami says, punching me in the arm at the same time.
"Malik doesn't use his Rod like that anymore. He's changed, you know that." Ryou adamantly defends Malik. Yami starts giggling next to me, for some odd reason. I raise an eyebrow in confusion, but Yami just keeps on laughing. Oh wait, I get it. Heh, I'm surprised I didn't get it right after he said it.
Suppressing laughter myself now, I turn back to Ryou. "So Ryou, how does Malik use his Rod now?"
That did it. They both blush brightly, even Malik through his tan skin. From Malik's reaction though, I'm guessing they haven't gotten that far in their relationship and I might have hit on a sensitive subject. Ah well, Ryou walked right into that one and there was no way I was going to pass it up.
Yami's hand comes to rest on my arm, subduing my laughter some. Yami takes a deep, controlling breath and stands up straight once again. "Okay, okay… that's enough teasing. Remember we have something to tell Malik too."
"Oh, right. Okay, Malik, we've decided that you should know our little secret. Yami and I are dating too."
"That was rather to the point." Yami criticizes.
"Well, how else was I supposed to say it?" He exaggeratedly rolls his eyes at me and crosses his arms.
"When we tell everyone else, I'll do the talking."
"That's fine by me." I turn my attention back to Malik, who is whispering something to Ryou, something he apparently finds rather amusing. Malik notices that me and Yami have ended our argument and instantly stops whispering to Ryou. I hate it when people whisper to each other.
"So you two are together, that's not surprising." Malik says nonchalantly. I twist my face in disappointment, expecting more of a reaction than that.
"Why isn't that surprising?" I ask, somewhat annoyed. I thought we did a pretty good job of hiding it from everyone.
"What do you mean? You two are so obvious! Especially after that little display a few minutes ago. And besides, I've known you've had a thing for the Pharaoh for a long time."
"What?!" Damn it, I was hoping to really shock him. First Yami and now Malik, this is no fun at all. Ah well, maybe I'll get the chance to have fun shocking everyone else.
"But don't worry. I think I am the only one who has paid enough attention to you two to really notice. I doubt anyone else suspects anything."
"Well, that's fine, but we are planning on telling them soon, so please keep it a secret until then." Yami adds in.
"We are?!?" He has not discussed this with me at all.
"Yes, I think it is about time. It has been over three months."
"I don't think you guys have anything to worry about. I think everyone pretty much gets the idea about both of you, except maybe Anzu. She told me that you said you were interested in someone else, but I doubt she has any idea that that person is Bakura or a guy for that matter. I'm sure they will all accept you as a couple eventually." Malik tells Yami in an atypical informational tone.
"Hey, wait a minute! What do you mean by 'everyone gets the idea about us'?" I interrupt before Yami can say anything in response. If he's implying what I think he is, I might have to hurt him.
"Come on, look at Yami. With the skin-tight leather and his mannerisms, it's so obvious that he's gay. And with you, it's slightly more subtle, but the signs are still there." Malik grins slyly, knowing full well that he's really starting to piss me off.
"I am not obvious."
"Ryou, do you think he's obvious?" Malik questions with a sarcastic overtone in his words.
"Oh, extraordinarily so." He replies enthusiastically, enjoying the fact that he gets to tease me back some.
"If anyone's obvious it's you Malik. The lilac tank top that showed off your stomach was a dead giveaway. As for Ryou, that was easy considering I'm his yami."
"I know you like the way I dress. I've seen you look me over a few times before."
"That's absurd, I have not!!"
"Okay, that's enough children. Ra, you're just as bad with Yugi." Yami interjects, halting the argument. Just as well though, my head was starting to spin from the effort it took to control the volume of my voice. "Let's just go into the living room and calm down a bit."
"So much for being presentable and civil towards Malik when I got home." Ryou turns around and scolds me quietly as we walk into the living room. We let Ryou and Malik take the couch, while I sit in the next biggest chair with Yami halfway on my lap. Ryou and Malik sit close together, but that's about it. I'm sure neither of them is quite used to the idea of showing their affection in front of others, but it's not like me and Yami are going to start making out either.
"Anyways, have you two thought about when you're going to tell everyone else?" Yami asks, directing the conversation away from another possible argument.
"Well, it's still a very personal thing to me, something that I don't think I'm quite ready to make public just yet. I'm dreading the bombardment of questions that is sure to follow once we tell them. Everyone likes to gossip way to much." Ryou tells Yami, tensing up as he talks. Malik notices the change as well and wraps his arm around Ryou's shoulders.
"You're so cute when you get all shy like that." Malik says in an attempt to lighten Ryou's mood. However, this only makes matters worse for Ryou. His face gets all red yet again and Malik softly laughs at the reaction he got. It's interesting to see how much his personality has changed since he's around Malik.
"Stop embarrassing me…" Ryou tells Malik gently while looking over to him. Yami laughs politely next to me, but I can't help but watch their interaction intently. The way Malik just smiles back at Ryou is perfectly serene and the manner in which Ryou holds his gaze, it looks as if they are caught in their own flawless moment of time. They really do look sweet together and Malik isn't so bad, better than any other choice, I think. I can make more of a sincere effort to be civil to him. Interacting with people is so hard though.
As soon as it began, their exchange ends and they are pulled back into reality, integrating themselves back into the conversation. "So, I heard about what you guys did to Kaiba's Blue Eye's statue yesterday. That was so deliciously evil!"
"Don't encourage them." Ryou sounds a tad annoyed, most likely because he's been the one that has to sort out the messes we've been creating lately.
"Really? I have to say it was probably my best idea yet." There's a bit of underlying excitement in his words, how funny.
"You thought of that?" Malik repeats out of surprise.
"Yeah, I've had a lot of fun turning him into the perfect partner in crime." I answer for Yami proudly. "Soon, we'll have to move onto bigger and better things."
"Oh, wonderful… Good thing there's no Egyptian Tombs around here." Ryou says with a total lack of enthusiasm, while bringing a hand to the side of his head.
"You need to work on some things yourself, by the way." Yami just has to add.
"Hey, I haven't had as much experience with all this technology stuff, so you can't complain. It's not like you noticed either."
"Well, you'd better learn before the next time."
"Just stay away from the museums and jewelry stores you two… please. I really don't want to have to bail you out of jail or worse."
"You won't have to if we aren't caught." Yami responds, emphasizing the 'caught' part. He must still be a little miffed about the incident with Kaiba.
A displeased sigh comes from Ryou, deciding that it is useless to try and convince us to do otherwise. He'll get over it.
Before I can defend myself, the doorbell rings causing Ryou to spring off the couch. "That'll be Yugi and Jounouchi."
"What?" I had no idea they were coming over.
"I told you that they were coming over to study for our test tomorrow, with me and Malik." Okay, I know he didn't tell me about that one. But before I can say anything about it, Ryou runs off to answer the door. Yami and I stand up and take a few steps away from each other while Malik remains on the couch.
"Hi guys!" They'd better decide to go study in his room.
"There was a change of plans and it ended up that I could come too." Oh great, that was unmistakably Anzu's voice.
"That's great! Come on in." I'm outta here. I turn around and try to sneak out of the room, but Yami grabs me by the back of my shirt and swings me around. Dammit.
"Hey! Didn't think you'd be here too Yami." Jounouchi says as the group moves into the living room.
"Uh yeah, I decided to meet Yugi here." I've noticed that Yami is not a very good liar, but apparently Jounouchi is buying it.
There's a pause and Jounouchi looks over at me, then to Yami, and finally back at me. Both Yami and I are frozen under the unexpected scrutiny. "You know, you two have been awfully nice around one another lately."
Shit, does he suspect something?!? Can't have that. "No, we haven't." And I punch Yami hard in the arm.
"Be kind to this third-rate Tomb Robber? I think not. And there was no reason for you to hit me." Yami says in his stuck-up Pharaoh tone as he punches me back.
"I don't need a reason to hit you!"
"Jeez, sorry I said anything!" Jounouchi walks back to the main group, leaving us to continue our for-show fistfight. Yami shoves me into the hall and we wrestle our way into the other room where he finally slams me against the wall.
We stay dead silent, holding our breaths, to listen if anyone is planning on bothering us anymore. Once it is deemed relatively safe, we both let out long sighs of relief. "Whew, I thought he was onto us for a moment there."
"This needs to stop and soon." Yami states simply in a low and serious voice.
"But don't you like to have a little punching match every once in a while?" Maybe a little sarcasm will lighten him up a bit.
His exhausted eyes manage to pull themselves up from the spot he's been staring at on the ground. He must be stressed out. "I just don't want to have to keep lying to them."
"You're not lying, just omitting certain things." I figured that referencing to that little joke he made earlier would help, but I was wrong. His usual confident posture slides away and his eyes look almost entirely dead. Ra, I must have really hit on something that has been bothering him greatly. Yami doesn't even say a word as he moves forward and hugs me, nuzzling his face into my chest.
"You aren't really that worried about telling them, are you?" He's acting so odd, I can't believe that he'd really feel this guilty about keeping this one little thing from his friends. It's not like he doesn't deserve to have some secrets too. I put reassuring arms around him, attempting to calm whatever fears he has about all of this, but he still hasn't said anything back to me.
"I mean, since when have you cared about what other people think of you? And besides, even Malik said that he thought everyone would be fine with our relationship eventually." Still nothing.
"If they're really your friends, they aren't going to hate you because you're in love with someone who isn't exactly the conventional example of a boyfriend." Ra, I'm starting to sound like Anzu, please someone kill me now. "It'll all work out."
Why doesn't he say something?!? This is getting infuriating! "You aren't embarrassed by me, are you?"
Yami snaps his head up from where he was resting on my chest, his eyes shining a bit more than usual. "Of course not! How could you even ask such a thing?"
"I was just trying to get your attention. I can't stand being in a one-sided conversation."
"Sorry. It's just…" His sentence quietly trails off into nothing.
"Don't worry. When we tell them, if anyone is a total bastard about it, I'll send them to the Shadow Realm for you, along with one of my more gruesome Duel Monsters." I will too.
At least that seemed to cheer him up a bit. His meek smile is enough to make me smile as well, even more so as he runs his fingers along my cheek. "Thank you."
He places his hands on my shoulders and I can feel his weight as he pulls himself up on his toes. I wrap my arms around his waist to support him and then meet his lips with my own. It starts as an unusually chaste kiss, considering Yami is normally rather aggressive. But, I let him take it as far as he wants, not needing to push him in his current mood.
He presses me back against the wall and when he runs his tongue along my lips, I immediately conform to his demands. His hands cling desperately to the back of my neck and bury themselves in my hair. He has never once kissed me like this before; it's almost as if I can feel his despair pouring into me, threatening to consume my entire being. It's almost overwhelming.
I begin to feel lightheaded, most likely due to the absence of breathing on my part. Luckily, Yami breaks off the kiss and stares back at me with the same pained look on his face. "No matter what happens, promise me that you'll always remember that I love you."
Why would he say that? It's not like telling his friends about us is going to bring about the Apocalypse or anything like that. Still immensely puzzled by his request though, I consider questioning him further, but the look in his eyes just won't allow me to do so. "Okay… I promise."
A look of complete relief floods over his features and can't help but mirror his transformation. He must be simply overreacting to this entire situation. He can get a little dramatic at times, especially when it comes to his friends. He'll get over it and everything will be back to normal once again.
"Good. So, what would you say to getting out of here and finding a nice place away from all these potential annoyances?" Yami asks with a big smile.
"I'd say, lead the way, as long as it involves more than just sitting in the sun." I respond playfully.
"You are so one minded."
"I can't help it. But that is entirely your fault, after all."
"I know." He laughs as he takes my hand and leads me towards the back door.
See, everything's back to normal already.
To be continued-
So, another chapter done. I can't promise that the next one will be as quick of an update, but I will definitely try. But don't worry, I certainly plan on completing this fic, no matter how long it takes me. I was trying to have this chapter be a good balance of serious and fun parts, like the last one. Oh, and hopefully Yami wasn't too out of character, just keep in mind that Bakura can be a little slow to catch on at times, as much as I love him, but it fits in better with the way I want the story to develop. Hope you enjoyed and please review!!