Epilogue – The second wrap-up.
Title: What strange friends you have, little Ryou.
Dedications: POWERED BY "Krispy Kreme donuts!" without 'em, Yugi and Yami wouldn't have fancy coffee breaks in star's chairs while chatting about their insane lives.
Notes concerning this chapter: If this doesn't seem to flow as naturally as the other chapters, that should make sense. The epilogue was not originally part of the story. However, there were some loose ends I never tied up, so I thought up this scene…and
: If this doesn't seem to flow as naturally as the other chapters, that The epilogue was not originally part of the story. However, there were some loose ends I never tied up, so I thought up this scene…and…expanded on it hellishly.
As usual, stuff that I feel needs explanation (or otherwise) has been tagged with a number to link it with the note below.
((Mind link))
Disclaimer: Quick question! Who. Cares? What do you want? To hear me babble or read the chapter? –Nods- That's what I thought.
WARNING: Not beta-ed yet. My beta-reader is quite busy...-hugs her -
You guys have been spectacular reviewers! Thanks a million.
OH! GUYS! A reviewer asked, so, in case you care to read this…the paper that the girl gave Bakura was song lyrics. Song lyrics for "Reason"…that's why Bakura was suddenly " inspired." Why did some stranger give Bakura lyrics? Because…she's writing this. :P
Now, chapter-time!
It had been about…sixty-five hours since Bakura, Ryou, Yami, Yugi, Marik, and Malik had all been at Mystic Dream, enjoying the fact that they were all hooked up. (And thank GOD that they weren't all hooked up as some kind of…love-hexagon! Eww.)
Finally, it felt as if life was actually easing up a little. After all, it was about time. After the three yamis had been thrown into various fights amongst themselves, to the horror of their hikaris, it was way past time for a little peace.
Or not.
But at least the entire free and non-free world wasn't at stake. So…something had to be going right. Anyway, at least there shouldn't be any more stabbing…to Bakura's secret disappointment.
As for a sum up of what the hikaris and yamis had been doing with these almost three days since the hook-ups became official, it was a little something like…
Yugi woke up in Yami's arms and couldn't resist a fond chuckle at the appearance of his sleeping crush. Thankfully it was Saturday, so, neither one of them had to go anywhere. You can be sure they slept late.
And, you can be even surer that they were attached-at-the-hip for the entire day. But, telling you about the long affection looks, the sweet ice cream flavored kisses (They had to get ice cream. Sugar is romantic!), the sighs from the feeling of being complete, and the joy-filled embraces would just take too much time.
(Plus, YamiXYugi isn't the main pairing…too bad.)
Marik and Malik, also celebrating the romantic atmosphere, went for a motorcycle ride and a trip to…wherever they could hang out at that wouldn't be too expensive if they broke something.
Unfortunately, I can't give you details about their day, because this story is rated p-g13.
Bakura and Ryou? Bakura hadn't really been able to sleep the night before. Not that he wasn't comfortable, of course. He was probably more comfortable then he had ever been in his life. Ryou nestled in his arms, his head resting on Bakura's chest as he fell asleep listening to Bakura's heart, silky covers wrapped around them…
It seemed…perfect. No…it had to be perfect. There wasn't any other way to describe it.
But still, the thief remained sleepless. It wasn't that he wasn't tired. He woke up a lot earlier then he cared to this morning, and the day before, and he'd done a lot of walking.
As he watched his little hikari, though…it made him wonder, why on earth did he want to sleep? Who cares? He could sleep anytime. But now, he had a new hobby: "Ryou watching."
Bakura felt like he could (and probably would) enjoy this hobby for hours and never get bored. What's more, that might make him too busy to play with pointy objects or attempt a game of pretend, like "barber shop" with Yami's hair. Ryou would appreciate that.
Eventually, Bakura had to fall asleep, but he fought it off most of the night. Kind of like the way little kids demand to be awake on Christmas Eve.
The thief was awoken to the light and dainty wake up call of a pillow smacking him upside the head. Bakura shot up like a bullet and trained a sleepy death glare on a slightly disheveled Ryou.
"What, may I ask, was that for, hikari?" Bakura hissed, grumpy from lack of sleep.
Ryou bit back a snicker, trying to be serious. He lifted himself up, withdrawing the knee that he been imbedded in their covers. "That was because you snore."
Bakura huffed. "I do not!"
"Yes, you do. Like a broken chainsaw." Tossing seriousness out the window, Ryou snickered. Bakura glared. Ryou snickered more. Bakura grumbled.
"I do not, and don't you dare say anything like that around spider-bangs." Bakura crawled out of bed and slipped back on his shirt.
"Will you ever just call him "Yami"?" Ryou sighed, pretending to be exasperated, even though he still felt a little light-headed from last night.
Bakura smirked. "How 'bout no?"
Ryou shrugged, giving up for now. "How about breakfast, Bakura-kun?"
"Two eggs sunny side up, bacon, toast medium-brown…." Bakura listed off, ticking the items off on his fingers as he watched Ryou cross his arms out of the corner of his eye.
"That's fine…if you feel like making breakfast yourself." Ryou suggested, amused. "Or, we could make pancakes together."
"Mmm…that works too." Bakura licked his lips and nodded approvingly. "Oh. Uh…hikari?"
"Hmm?" Ryou slid open the door to the closet to look for a change of clothes…and remembered that they were in Bakura's room. And he wasn't in the mood for leather or black.
Bakura frowned. "I can't cook."
Ryou rolled his eyes. "Well, then I can teach you. No time like the present, ne?" Ryou smiled back at Bakura and then walked through the hallway to his own bedroom so he could change. Bakura tried to follow him and got a door in his face.
"Hey!"
"I'm going to change, Bakura. So don't you dare walk through that door!" Ryou threatened. Though, currently, his mightiest weapon would have been a rubber ducky.
Bakura, though embarrassed, smirked. "What about the walls?"
"Bakuraaaaa…don't even think about it." Ryou's accusing tone carried emotions over their link. Bakura responded with reassurance and comfort, to show that he was just playing around. For now, anyway.
Bakura obediently waited outside the door and thought about last night. It was still kind of hard to believe all that stuff really happened.
'Life…is strange. Especially my life.'
((Tell me about it…)) Ryou sent back. Bakura realized his hikari had accidentally heard his previous thought.
((I already did.)) Bakura pointed out, huffing.
Ryou's laughter echoed through their mind link, creating a tingling sensation of pleasure from the pleasant sound. ((That was sarcasm, right?))
((No, of course not, hikari. Why, how could you even suggest that I have the capacity to be sarcastic of all things?)) Bakura asked, feigning innocence and pretending to be incredulous. .
((Why, indeed?)) Ryou asked, with another warm wave of laughter.
((I'm certain I don't know where you ever got that idea.)) Bakura huffed again, sending the equivalent of rolling his eyes over their mental link.
((Yes, yes. Now if you don't mind, I'm still getting dressed, and if you keep at it, I'll spend all day laughing.)) Ryou shooed Bakura mentally, making a wordless request to not be pestered any more.
Bakura reacted with mentally holding up his hands in surrender, an action he obviously didn't do often, and remained silent.
Shortly after Ryou finished getting ready, their newly floured kitchen gave one the irresistible urge to sing "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" even though it was really August.
"You know…we're going to have to clean up this mess when we're done." Ryou chuckled, glancing around, already imagining the mops and buckets necessary for such a job.
Bakura shrugged. "We'll burn that bridge when we get to it, hikari." (1)
Ryou rolled his eyes and couldn't resist a smile at Bakura's antics. But the end result was, however messy, good. And syrupy. In spite of Bakura's whines, Ryou was true to his word, and they did clean up the gigantic mess caused by their mini winter wonderland.
When it was all over, there was nothing left to do but collapse on the couch lazily and cuddle.
"Want to do something today, 'Kura?" Ryou asked, turning to the thief, who was currently content in wrapping his arms around his hikari's waist.
"Mm…like what?" Bakura asked, a bit curious but more interested in doing nothing.
"Oh…I don't know. Go out and see a movie? Spend the day at the beach? The park? Or, would you prefer we go knife shopping?" Ryou suggested, playfully sarcastic.
Bakura stared back into Ryou's playful eyes, then appeared as serious as a grave. He sighed. "Mmm, I think the last twenty-three knives from the mall should be well-built enough to last a couple of days, but you never know."
Ryou nudged him in the stomach, sticking his tongue out. "Oh? And just what, pray tell, my darkness, were you planning on doing with those knives, hmm?"
"I haven't decided yet, but I just may if you don't keep that thing inside your mouth, hikari." Bakura smirked, challengingly raising an eyebrow in a dare for Ryou to see whether or not he was kidding.
Obviously, Ryou's mouth shut very quickly. But after a few moments of wary examination of his darker half, Ryou cautiously opened his mouth again. "You don't really mean that, do you?"
"Would you care to find out?" Bakura asked sweetly, a new sort of smile on his face.
'Maybe, maybe not…'
Ryou grimaced and shook his head, inching away. "Not particularly."
Bakura grinned and pulled him closer. "You're sure?"
"Yes, Bakura. I'm absolutely positive. Now…about going somewhere?" Ryou was…almost sure that Bakura didn't mean it. Almost. But, he also figured that…the thief was still going through a couple of phases and, well, he didn't want to rock the boat if it was going to capsize on him.
"A movie sounds nice. Know any really dark dark theaters, Ryou?" Bakura asked, still grinning.
Ryou sighed; convinced today would be a long day. But a nice one, all the same. If Bakura was a psychotic knife-loving handful, at least Bakura was his psychotic knife-loving handful.
Well, eventually, they managed to decide on a movie. It took a while, because, Bakura couldn't kick his old habit of enjoying horror movies, and for Ryou, when Bakura watched those movies…Ryou generally felt like running outside after the first commercial.
They ended up walking into the theater room with popcorn in hand and sat in the fourth row from the front. All the front seats were taken, but the fifth was empty, and the sixth was almost empty, save for one couple.
They happened to be playing commercials this time for a collection of romance movies such as "Romeo+Juliet", "Ever after", "When Harry met Sally", and a couple of others. .
During the commercials, they played the song "Kiss me." Ryou, with all the singing that had been involved in the last couple of days, began to sing along. Bakura, on the other hand, took the lyrics literally. Or at least, pretended he did.
Ryou blushed as he suddenly found he couldn't sing any more, with how busy his mouth had become. He was now very grateful that the theater was dark. They broke away from each other shortly after the kiss and Bakura went back to watching the screen, but not with out slipping his hand into Ryou's.
And his hand stayed there, their fingers laced, throughout the movie, much to Ryou's delight. In addition, the laughter from the audience in front of them was often contagious and it was one of those crowds that make you glad you picked a certain theater.
When the mood of the movie softened, and the atmosphere too, Ryou leaned against Bakura, setting his head on his darkness' shoulder. Bakura glanced over it his hikari fondly, smiling just a little bit.
In the end there were sighs echoing from every corner of the room as people stood up to leave. Ryou continued in his comfortable leaning position as they walked out and Bakura glanced around so he could glare at anyone who might show the smallest sign of protest.
"Good movie, huh, 'Kura?" Ryou asked softly, feeling the dreadful after effects of a movie, with all normal lighting seeming to bright and the strange exhaustion of sitting still for too long. But all in all, he couldn't keep a smile off his face.
"Yeah." Bakura put an arm around Ryou, over the arm that was wrapped around his own waist. "Good movie."
"The lights, though…my vision is still blurry. Mind if I walk it off?"
Bakura shook his head, spiked white locks dancing with the motion. "Nah, actually…I'll join you."
So they walked, side-by-side, talking about their favorite parts of the movie…and Bakura, for some obviously unknown reason, said that he liked the beginning.
Ryou paused thoughtfully and then nodded. "Oh…yeah, I thought the intro was pretty cool too."
"I meant the commercials."
Ryou, also for some unknown reason, wished he were back in the theater because of its very dim lighting. But when all was said and done, Saturday had been an excellent day for all the couples…(2)
Sunday was the aftermath, which in involved a couple of various clean-ups and a six person chat conversation that evening:
(3)
ShAdowChyld: Hey, everyone's here, right?
PSXPS:3 Present, Yami-kun.
ResidentPsycho: The party has arrived, shiny-pants.
EdgeOfNight: Quit stealing all the good names, Marik!
WhiteMage: I don't know, Bakura. I like yours.
BornToBe: Like his what?
ResidentPsycho: Lol…now, hikari, there are some things you just don't want to know.
EdgeOfNight: Shut up, Marik. Leave Ryou alone.
ResidentPsycho: Aww…isn't that sweet? Guard dog Bakura! –Pets Bakura –
EdgeOfNight: -Bites hand –
BornToBe: No, seriously. Like his what? I didn't catch that.
EdgeOfNight: My name, you pervs. Hey, spike-head! Start the meeting already. I feel dirty just being in cyber-space with you guys.
ShAdowChyld: -Shrug - Hey, they're your friends. Anyway…
BornToBe: Wait! Quick question! Yugi?
PSXPS: Huh?
BornToBe: What does your name mean? It's gotta be initials for something.
PSXPS: Oh! -Laughs – It means "Puzzle Solver X Puzzle Spirit."
ShAdowChyld: -Blushes –
BornToBe: -Laughs – Aww. How cute!
EdgeOfNight: …Isn't the seme usually put first? Or O.o does that mean that Yugi IS…?
ShAdowChyld: Oh, shut up, T-R! –Glare-
EdgeOfNight: Haha…make me, S-H!
WhiteMage: He doesn't have to, I will. So, as you were saying…?
BornToBe: Wait! Wait! I just have to ask one more question!
WhiteMage: For whom?
BornToBe: Yugi!
PSXPS: Okay, but after that, no more interruptions. What's the question?
BornToBe: What's it like?
PSXPS: What?
BornToBe: Being on top. What's it like?
ShAdowChyld: OMR, I swear…Malik, I hope you sleep with one eye open tonight. (4)
ResidentPsycho: -Smirk – I'm so proud, hikari.
PSXPS: -Beet red – Uh…can we just please start the meeting? Like, now?
ShAdowChyld: -Glares at Malik – Gladly, aibou. Well, most of our plans involve stuff that would require some persuasion for both parties. So, I think it'd be best to have someone on the "inside" as it were.
EdgeOfNight: -Groans- Get to the point, pharaoh!
ShAdowChyld: I would if some people would shut up long enough for me to get a word in edge-wise. The point is, I think now would be a good time to introduce my secret weapon.
: I would if people would shut up long enough for me to get a word in edge-wise. The point is, I think now would be a good time to introduce my secret weapon.WhiteMage: Secret weapon?
BornToBe: What are you talking about?
"CapsuleMonsterKing" requestz to join…
ShAdowChyld: Right on time.
CapsuleMonsterKing: Hey guys!
PSXPS: -Waves- Hey! Nice of you to show!
BornToBe: Mr. Secret Weapon, I assume?
WhiteMage: -Grins – I know who it is!
EdgeOfNight: Who wouldn't? The name is a dead give-away.
CapsuleMonsterKing: Aww…really? –Pout –
EdgeOfNight: Really. But, who would have guessed that you would participate in our plot? –Raises eyebrow – What's in it for you?
: Really. But, who would have guessed that would participate in our plot? –Raises eyebrow – What's in it for you?CapsuleMonsterKing: -Sticks tongue out – A happier brother, of course.
ResidentPsycho: Wait, I know! It's Serenity!
"ShAdowChyld" rolls eyes at "ResidentPsycho"
MadamButterfly: You called?
ResidentPsycho: Mokuba!
BornToBe: Great, I got the smart one. –Sigh-
EdgeOfNight: My condolences.
CapsuleMonsterKing: Whoever wants to smack him, feel free!
EdgeOfNight: I feel free anytime. –Smacks Marik –
: Whoever wants to smack him, feel free: I feel free anytime. –Smacks Marik –BornToBe: Darn…beat me to it. Well, anyway, -nods to Yami – Your plan is that we mercilessly exploit their greatest weaknesses, -nods to Serenity and Mokuba – Against them to bend them to our will?
ShAdowChyld: More or less…-shrug –
EdgeOfNight: So you did learn something from battling me after all, eh, pharaoh?
: So you learn something from battling me after all, eh, pharaoh?ShAdowChyld: Don't flatter yourself. It's the oldest trick in the book, despite that it's the best.
EdgeOfNight: Indeed. And do you know who wrote the book, your blonde-ness?
: Indeed. And do you know who the book, your blonde-ness?MadamButterfly: Hey! That's an insult to blondes! …And…the extra e means you're talking about a girl!
EdgeOfNight: Who says I'm not? "He" preens himself in the mirror often enough. I want proof!
ShAdowChyld: -Growls- After I kill Malik, I'm coming after you. I'm gonna ---
"DynamyteKid" has joined the chatroom
DynamyteKid: Hey, guys. What's shakin'?
EdgeOfNight: Nothing!
BornToBe: Nothing!
ResidentPsycho: I dunno. Shaking who? Wait…umm…Malik was shaking a coke can earlier.
DynamyteKid: Uh…Yami?
ShAdowChyld: -Rolls eyes – Never mind them, Joey. What's up?
DynamyteKid: Nothing, really. Gee…the chat room sure is crowded tonight, eh?
ShAdowChyld: Kinda. That a problem?
DynamyteKid: Nah…I can talk with you later. And…maybe Yugi, if he wants to join. I'd just rather not have those guys as an audience. Yanno?
: Nah…I can talk with you later. And…maybe Yugi, if he wants to join. I'd just rather not have guys as an audience. Yanno?ShAdowChyld: Yeah. NP.
PSXPS: Sure. TTYS?
DynamyteKid: Uh huh. See ya: Yug', Yami. And, btw, whatever these guys are on? Don't have any. Please.
: Sure. TTYS: Uh huh. See ya: Yug', Yami. And, btw, whatever these guys are on? Don't have any. Please.PSXPS: -Laughs- Got it.
WhiteMage: Bye!
DynamyteKid: Bye!
"DynamyteKid" has left the chatroom
ShAdowChyld: Gee…-rolls eyes– With you guys around, I'll bet Joey doesn't suspect a thiiiing. –Glares–
ResidentPsycho: Why, thanks, pharaoh.
EdgeOfNight: It's called sarcasm, stupid.
PSXPS: Oh, Yami…be nice. Don't tell me you didn't jolt when Joey just waltzed in? I thought he told me he couldn't chat tonight.
: Oh, Yami…be nice. Don't tell me you didn't jolt when Joey just waltzed in? I thought he told me he chat tonight.ShAdowChyld: I don't jolt. And he said he probably couldn't. –Shrug- That's a maybe in disguise, aibou-chan.
: I don't jolt. And he said he couldn't. –Shrug- That's a maybe in disguise, aibou-chan.PSXPS: Do too. Especially when I sneak up on you. –Chuckles- But, I guess we should quit this little session for now. We'll talk at school tomorrow, guys! Everybody off! …And I'll see you in a minute, love. –winks at Yami-
"PSXPS" has left the chat room
EdgeOfNight: The twerp actually sneaks up on you?
ShAdowChyld: Call him that again and you'll have more then a scar to complain about this time around. Later, everyone!
"ShAdowChyld" has left the chat room
MadamButterfly: I'm going to talk with my brother before bed, so I'm gone. See you around, guys!
CapsuleMonsterKing: I hear you, Seren. I've got the same planned, but for me, it's a lecture. Not a chat.
WhiteMage: Seto's going to give you a lecture? What for?
CapsuleMonsterKing: -Chuckle- No, no…a lecture for him. He's still as much of a workaholic as ever, and he missed our quality time yesterday. He's really overdoing it these days.
WhiteMage: Oh. Good luck, then. –Waves –
CasuleMonsterKing: Thanks, Ryou-kun. Good luck with surviving Bakura, too:3
–Waves back-
"CapsuleMonsterKing" has left the chatroom
"MadamButterfly" has left the chatroom
ResidentPsycho: I'm hungry.
"ResidentPsycho" has left the chatroom to: Take over the world! MUWAHAHAHA!
WhiteMage: O.o Wha?
BornToBe: Marik learned how to make it say that. It's in the settings.
EdgeOfNight: That reminds me. About your question, Malik?
BornToBe: Yeah?
EdgeOfNight: -Smirk- Why didn't you just ask me?
WhiteMage: -Blushes and glares- Like you'd know!
BornToBe:D Why, Ryou…
WhiteMage: We. Didn't. do. ANYTHING.
EdgeOfNight: Why, Ryou! We're in the presence of a friend! You don't need to be so embarrassed…
BornToBe: -Laughs- Nice. Well, we'll discuss this matter later, with all the juicy details.
First, I have to make sure Marik doesn't eat me and sis out of house and home. Or burn us out, for that matter!
EdgeOfNight: Later, Malik! See you in bed, Ryou. –Wink-
"BornToBe" has left the chatroom
"EdgeOfNight" has left the chatroom
WhiteMage: What strange friends I have…
"WhiteMage" has left the chatroom. The chatroom is now empty. Shutting down chatroom 168593, "The Duelists", end chat session.
Monday hours tortured the lazy student as they deviously inched forward at the speed of a ninety-year-old, half crippled and on crutches, lazy, athlete's foot baring centipede.
Meaning, of that was taken literally, it would stand to reason that Mr. Senior Citizen bug shouldn't have moved at all unless a gust of wind helped out. The same thing with the hours.
Fortunately, our heroes and heroines didn't have any kind of problem with that, because:
Serenity, Anzu and Mai were all chatting about "girl stuff." Bakura was trying to pretend he wasn't eyeing Ryou, Ryou was pretending he wasn't blushing. Joey was pretending he hated Kaiba, Kaiba was obviously pretending likewise and doing a hell of a better job.
Yami was plotting new ways to steal kisses from Yugi in-between classes, Yugi was making eyes at Yami and trying to figure out how he could still pay attention to school.
Marik was studying. Yup. "How to blow up a science lab 101" was the curriculum. Malik was studying too…"how to prevent the acts from the guy who purchased "How to blow up a science lab 101."
Duke and Honda were still arguing, as usual. Most likely about Serenity, but by this point, they'd gotten so bad, that they were like little Joey and Seto clones, giving various people various good (depending upon personal definition) ideas.
When the day finally ended, Ryou and Bakura found themselves walking to the Ishtar residence. It was only an hour ago that Malik suggested a meeting at his house, after school.
Ryou and Bakura found themselves met by a pair of leather-wearing game loving teens, one shorter-than-Yugi midget with raven colored hair and one young woman with reddish-brunette hair…all gathered at the door step of the one and only Malik Ishtar.
"Hey! Bakura! Ryou! Nice of you guys to finally show!" Mokuba called, waving his arms frantically, like a fourth grader with bathroom needs.
Ryou waved back. "Hey, Mokuba! Sorry if we're late!"
"Speak for yourself, Ryou." Bakura muttered. "I don't mind having you to myself a little while longer."
Ryou chuckled fondly, gazing up at muttering Bakura with affectionate eyes. "I can't say I'd mind it myself, 'Kura. But…still, I said we'd come, and you wouldn't want to make me a liar, now would you?"
Bakura pretended to be taken aback. "But, Ryou-chan, I'd be so proud!"
Ryou punished him with a thin and sharp elbow to Bakura's gut. "For once in your life, Bakura, be good."
Bakura muttered some more under his breath protests, especially when he thought about what Marik would say he was in this case.
But, in the end, they reached the back of the procession to Malik's house and Yami, who was in front, knocked on the front door three times, good and loud. There was no crashing this time, but the distinct sound of snickering at the door.
Malik's face popped out of, seemingly nowhere, as he looked through the side window to see who it was. Ryou waved enthusiastically at him and Malik's telltale smirk widened to unhealthy face-breaking proportions that could probably dentists rich…er if everyone shared his unique mouth-span.
Malik opened the door, but before anyone could greet him with a loud, boisterous "Hello!" Malik put a finger to his lips in a call for silence. Then giggled. He looked around at the other with a grinchy-grin.
"Okay, I'll bite. Why do you look that the cat that just ate the canary?" Bakura spoke up, agitated that there was some sort of enjoyable mischief was going on that he wasn't aware of. It was like someone had started the party without him.
"Ssssh…I can't tell you. I have to show you. But you have to be quiet, or else, well…I'm not really afraid for Yugi, because of Yami. Or Ryou, because of you, Bakura. But I think Mokuba and Serenity would be easy targets without a body guard." Malik chuckled, though his face paled in a way that made his warning quite serious.
"Uh…" Serenity paused for a moment, hesitating. "I'm not so sure I should go in then."
Malik glanced at the shy girl with sympathy, then ran his fingers through his hair in thought. "Well, if worst comes to worst, I can give you all a five-minute head-start."
"Sounds fair." Bakura nodded and shrugged.
Ryou looked up at Bakura with a slight flush. "Bakura, I don't want anyone getting hurt and…"
Ryou felt a sigh over their mental link, which felt like a heavy cloud. ((Don't worry, hikari. I'm sure I can take whatever the psycho family can dish out and I won't let them hurt you. After all, I'm your boyfriend now. So I'm supposed to make sure you're safe.))
Ryou sent back a gentle wave of affection. ((Yes, but…what about Serenity or Mokuba?))
((…What do you mean "what about them"?))
((Well, I don't want them getting hurt either…))
He felt Bakura frown, then sigh, irritated. ((Fine, fine. If it makes you feel any better, I'll make sure they don't die or get seriously injured.))
Ryou smiled and put his arm around Bakura, moving closer to him as he sent waves of gratitude to wash over his other's mind. Bakura accepted them with a sort of serenity, (no pun intended,) finding his general annoyance for being forced to care suddenly pushed aside.
"So, you guys okay?" Malik asked softly, eyes still a-twinkle.
Reluctant nods came from all over the group, Yami's arm protectively and possessively around Yugi, Yugi moving closer to Yami, Serenity bracing herself, Mokuba digging in his pocket for an emergency cell-phone, Ryou continuing in his previous action, and Bakura was just being Bakura.
Malik moved aside, motioning for them to be quiet and he let them in the doorway, then led them through a hallway, to the living room. There, Mokuba suddenly felt a torrent of giggles well up inside himself and let of couple of them out to find Bakura's hand close over his mouth. Which Ryou quietly thanked him for, though dazed and bewildered was his thanks.
So, other then Mokuba and Bakura who was simply staring in disbelief, everyone else was agape at the sight in front of them.
There was Marik, the once evil egomaniac, in his pajamas, with a purple dinosaur plushy beside him, singing "The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round" while watching…Barney.
Yami silently urged everyone outside, his own hand clapped firmly over his smirking mouth as everyone exited.
When the entire group got outside, Bakura released his hand from Mokuba's mouth and everyone who had followed in Bakura and Yami's example did so…and they all stared voicelessly for a minute…before exploding into uncontrollable fits of laughter.
Even Yugi, sympathetic to his favorite past-times being laughed at, could not do anything to restrain the giggles, chuckles, snickers and otherwise humor induced sounds.
"Oh…my…Rae…" Bakura choked out, laughing so hard, he almost had tears in his eyes. "Malik…that is too good. I'd say this the best blackmail I've ever seen, but this is way better then blackmail."
"Isn't it though?" Malik chuckled. "And he's been sitting there almost all morning. It was a marathon."
Yami stood up straight, finally, after the almost painful amount of laughter and calmly cleared his throat. "Maybe…maybe we should have that meeting tomorrow?"
Yugi nodded, embarrassed at his own laughter now that it was over. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea. I don't think any of us can hold a serious conversation with Marik right now."
"The real question, Yugi, is: Could we ever?" Bakura sneered, then laughed.
Almost everyone around the group stared at Bakura in absolute shock. Even Yami looked surprised. Yugi was surprised especially, but Ryou was more surprised then anyone else.
Bakura, finally uncomfortable from all the staring, finally glared and snapped. "What?"
Ryou was the first to speak, his tone quiet and dazed. "You, uh…you called him Yugi, Bakura."
Bakura rolled his eyes and found, with some annoyance, that everyone was still staring. "Isn't that his name, hikari?"
"Well, yeah, but you usually call me 'twerp' or 'brat' or 'Pharaoh's…something', or 'shrimpy', or 'shorty', or…" Yugi trailed off, kind of uncomfortable now because he saw that all the nicknames he mentioned did not make Yami look any happier.
"And your point would be?" Bakura scoffed.
Malik shrugged. "It was just unusually…courteous of you. It's like you calling Yami "pal" or something…or, more realistically, you getting through saying his name twice in one day without insulting him or substituting his name with some title you made up."
"So I don't insult shorty here for one time while acknowledging him and suddenly I'm a freak of nature?" Bakura stared, blinked, and then rolled his eyes. "And you guys say I'm weird."
Yami glared at him for the comment, but the majority of the group managed a good-natured chuckle over the whole thing and then, they all said their good-byes.
They could work out their evil plots tomorrow.
After all, tomorrow is another day…
Another day with strange friends…one very strange life…and one very strange, but suddenly, much happier world.
1: Natch. –Giggle- A nod to my friend Divey, (hope you don't mind me borrowing that idiom.) in reference to the fic she wrote for me. Thanks, girl. That quote was great. :3
2: Look, you, writing Sunday would kill me. I didn't plan any of that date stuff! I don't know how it got there, but once it was there, I couldn't help myself. XD Gaaaah! No more! NO MORE!
-Whimpers in fear of that fact that she cannot write dates-
3: Warning: Some, eh…strange humor ahead. I wrote this late at night and I have a really, really disturbing way of twisting ideas at 2 in the morning.
4: OMR is OMG for an Egyptian. –Giggle-
5: Oh, yeah, and a side note? I normally spell "Ra" as "Ra," but strangely enough, my spell checker says it's…"Rae"? I hate the spelling, but I should probably check it out. In the mean time, please deal with my insecurities about the spelling. I don't read up on mythology very much anymore, even though I used to enjoy doing so very much.
-Is fantasy freak and fantasy is usually mythology's distant cousin, or half-brother-
Final note: I think I stepped out of character here more then a couple of times. I told you it wouldn't flow well and I end up doing weird things to my characters when an idea doesn't come out right! –Growls – I hope it was still okay…
Kaaera: -Laugh- Well, I'm afraid that I can't help updating. When I -can-. Actually, confession: It was song lyrics. The person who gave them to Bakura was me. The other girl was my beta. I look forward to your review. Look me up again sometime...I haven't stopped writing yet. ;)
Hikari Skysong: Thanks. -Grins- I'm glad.
Eyes-of-Crimson: Mmm. I looked over your ficts. Primarily into BXR? Glad you loved it. And, if you do get something drawn...-smirks- Please remember that sharing is nice.
StormySkys: Oh, thank God. I love you! I mean...not in the disturbing way. The respect of reviewer kind of love. I needed to hear someone, just one person, praise the song. I'm so relieved. Overall excellence? You rock.
So's yanno..after I get about three or four fics done, I'm open for requests.
HappyDevil: Dead on feelings, then. Uh...my condolences. The epilogue took forever. Thank you.
Poison Remedy-Sinful Angel: Good, I don't want to lose a kind reviewer. -Chuckles- Well, then put good stuff up. Sorry it took forever.
AngelKelley17: Thx. Good question. Maybe after my Christmas fic is posted.
Kouichi Kimura: Super! And, tears? I'm touched. Almost. It's "Epilogue", not "Epilouge." At least you know what it is. XD A few people I know don't.
anonimus: Another sequel suggestion? My, my. Well, -maybe- after I finish some other fics. No promises. And, btw: No adress? -Frowns- (And, excuse me, but it's "anonymous")
Sand dancer: It's...not finished. -Frowns- Didn't you hear me? I said, "epilogue." -Blinku-
darkraven89: I think you just made yourself my favorite reviewer. I was moved by your review. Keep writing? My pleasure. -Bows- I'll do my best. I have more ficts in progress right now. Next priority: My YXY fic! -Picks cookie and munches- Thanks!
I think I stepped out of character here more then a couple of times. I told you it wouldn't flow well and I end up doing weird things to my characters when an idea doesn't come out right! –Growls – I hope it was still okay…