And the next chapter, I should work on my other story but this chapter just won't leave my head so I thought I would get it out of the way!
Reviews: Eve-Of-Misery: Thank you! I am much better now....glad you liked the last chapter, hope you like this one too! I always felt like there was more to Ryou than just the quiet innocent one. xxlilazngrlxx: I'm glad you like the story so much....and here is the next chapter already! Dark Magician Girl/ Hikaru: Thank you! Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: Do I own it? Sadly no.
They pulled into the mall parking lot and Bakura parked in a spot near Marik's motorcycle. Ryou swallowed the rather large lump that had suddenly formed in his throat at seeing the other two members of the most feared trio in school. Being around Bakura was disquieting enough, though so far he had seemed nice but add in his two friends and Ryou now was having second thoughts on coming today. Marik broke their kiss and pointed to the car. That was all it took for Malik to go skipping over to the car, literally, and Ryou wondered if Bakura would mind him spending the day safely locked in his car.
Bakura's POV:
I open my door and look over at Ryou who is wearing an expression of pure terror as he watches Malik skip over. Guess I forgot to mention we would be meeting up with them, kind of surprised he didn't figure as much. I nudged his shoulder to get his attention and smirked.
"Come on, they don't bite…much" He doesn't look reassured.
"KURA-CHAN!!!" I climb out of the car in time to get glomped by Malik. Wrapping one arm around his waist while I ruffle his hair with the other and steal a quick kiss.
"Miss me already? I didn't take that long." He nods and puts on the puppy eyes of doom, what is with these cute ones and their puppy eyes?!
"Yes you did! I'm starving to death!" I snort.
"Figures." Marik gets to the car by that time and opens Ryou's door.
"So you planning to sit in Kura's car all day or join us?" I see Ryou blush a bit and look at the ground before slowly getting out. Malik watches him like a kitten that just found a new toy. Great, poor kid.
"You actually got him to come?" I nod and as Ryou finally stands fully out of the car and Marik gets a good look at him he lets out a low whistle of appreciation which only increases the blush and makes Ryou fidget. Malik lets go of me except for my hand pulling me around the car to look Ryou over for himself.
"Wow Kura, you were right." Malik lets go of my hand fully walking up to Ryou and circling him slowly.
"Very nice." Malik licks his lips. "Looks good enough to eat." This causes Ryou to jumps back slightly. I walk up behind Ryou and wrap my arms around his waist, feeling him tense up as I lean down and whisper in his ear.
"You should really hold your head up and look around. There is a whole world out here beautiful." I feel him jump a bit at that and smirk. Malik at this point jumps onto Marik's back for a piggy back ride.
"Come on Kura! You can seduce him later, I'm starving!" I shoot a glare at Malik, I'm sure that statement helped win Ryou over. I glance at him and see his blush has now turned to a red that rivals a tomato. Marik begins to walk towards the mall with Malik bouncing on his back shouting for him to go faster.
"Lets go before they leave us behind." I let go of his waist and take his hand instead, it only took a slight tug but he followed along.
A quick jog and we were inside, just in time to see Marik and Malik arguing.
"But I want one! They were standing in front of the smoothie booth.
"I said NO! You know the rule Malik. And I don't want one, I hate that flavor." The rule was simple, lots of sugar and Malik is not a good combination but he loves those things. So he allowed to have one if and only if someone will share with him to limit the amount he has.
"Please!" Marik crossed his arms and I sighed.
"No." Malik then looked hopefully at me.
"Kura-chan! Will you split one with me? Please! Malik is being a meanie!" This time those eyes won't get me, I can't stand the flavor he likes.
"Not going to happen, don't waste the puppy eyes." Malik looks about ready to cry.
"You guys are being so mean to me!" Ryou looks questioningly at me so I whisper the explanation and he nods. Then shocks me.
"Well Malik, if you don't mind the mixed berry flavor I will split one with you." I swear Malik's head shot up like a rocket with the biggest grin before he about tackled Ryou to the ground.
"YAY! Ryou-chan loves me!" Much to Ryou's shock, trust me you could see it, Malik planted a huge kiss on his lips. Marik and I exchanged knowing smirks. Seems Malik likes Ryou.
"The mixed berry is my favorite flavor but these two only like strawberry banana, yuck!" Malik stuck his tongue out making a face to emphasize his point while Ryou giggled in the cutest way.
"Well, shall we get one then?" Malik looks up at me with the puppy eyes and I just sigh as I get in line to purchase said drink. While I placed the orders for drinks Marik walked up and placed an arm around each of the boy's waists.
"So what do you two feel like eating today?" I think Ryou is starting to relax, he didn't jump completely off the ground that time. Malik looked around the food court before making his choice.
"How about that one?" Malik points at the sub shop one, figures, actually a good choice since we can each get what we want. I walk up by that point with the three smoothies.
"Decide already?" Marik looks at Ryou.
"That okay with you?" He nods his head slowly while still looking at the ground. Marik and I both look down at the spot he is looking at before I speak up.
"Hey Ry, what is so interesting about the floor here?" I see him blush before Malik takes off for the said sub place and Marik gives Ryou a nudge to start walking before dropping back with me.
"You weren't kidding, he hardly looks up at all."
"I know, guess we have to work on that." Marik just smirks.
We place our orders, Malik getting his vegetarian one, Marik the club, mine the most meat possible and Ryou getting the special. We took a table after grabbing our order Malik and Ryou sitting beside each other to share their smoothie, I hand Marik his and take a drink of my own.
Didn't take long to finish eating, though Ryou barely ate more than half of his so Marik and I split the rest. We dumped the trash and walked up behind Malik and Ryou, Marik snaking one arm around Malik's waist and I grabbing Ryou's hand.
"So where do you two want to go first?" Malik starts jumping and pointing at the gag gifts store.
"There! There!" We head on in, everyone splitting up to look at their own thing. I hear Ryou giggling in the food section and head over, it seems Malik had the same idea. Ryou was standing there holding a bottle of extra strong unflavored laxative.
"Ummm something extra funny about that bottle Ry?" He suddenly looks up and blushes before placing it back on the shelf.
"No, just a memory." Malik walks up behind him and wraps both arms around his waist before nibbling at his ear turning Ryou and interesting shade of red as he starts giggling.
"Care to share that memory?" Ryou giggles more before he answers.
"Only if you stop tickling me Malik. My ears are way too ticklish." Malik grins but stops while Ryou catches his breath.
"Okay, back at my old school one of the punishments was kitchen duty, cleaning, cooking,, serving, that kind of thing. So my friend and I were both on kitchen duty cooking when he pulled out a bottle of that stuff." Ryou giggles more, I don't know if I'm more shocked by Ryou being this open or finding out he used to get in trouble at his old school.
"Anyways, we laced the cookies, pudding and Jell-O with it. We warned all our friends but sat back and waited. They had to cancel school since within thirty minutes after lunch most of the school, faculty included were battling for the bathroom." He giggles some more and Malik and I exchange shocked looks. That is a really good prank, and we never thought of it! Malik goes back to nibbling at Ryou's neck and ear while handing me two bottle of said stuff.
"You know Kura-chan I think I am liking Ryou-chan more and more."
"I know what you mean." Ryou blushes some more and I give him a wink.
Several hours and countless stores later Ryou is finally relaxing around us. Actually holding his head up, looking around and talking. He even shocked me a couple times when he grabbed my hand and dragged me over to see something. He and Malik were too cute in the pet shop hugging each other while looking at the cute animals and seeing which of the two could copy the fish best. We were resting by one of the fountains when I noticed both boys were huddled together whispering and giggling. I wondered briefly what they were planning but shrugged it off turning to face forward with Marik.
"Damn those two can shop Kura!"
"Tell me about it! My feet are killing me. You know how many more stores they plan on going into?"
"No clue but I hope not too many, I'm starting to feel more like a pack mule than a boyAIEEEE!"
"What the GAH! Fucking COLD!" I found out their plot. Dump a handful of ice cold fountain water down our backs and take off running giggling like mad the whole way.
"Oh they are so going to pay!" Marik was still jumping around from the water.
"Come on." I growled and grabbed half the bags. "They went into Malik's favorite store." Marik stood up grabbing the other half of the bags stalking after me. By the time we got in said store both of them were looking through racks of leather and overly tight or revealing clothes (you can guess why it is Malik's favorite) looking as innocent as angels. I smirk and wink over to Marik as I put my bags down near the register.
"Hey Kazi, watch these for us?" Yeah, we shop here a LOT.
"Sure Bakura. Hey we got new stock in over in the leather pants section." Right where Ryou is looking, perfect.
"Thanks." I head over there with Marik following my lead after dropping off his bags since Malik is only one rack over. Ryou is very intently looking over each pair of pants so I discreetly pick up a white pair.
"Hey Marik, don't you think Ryou would look good in white leather?" Malik's head shoots up looking at me obviously wondering what I was doing.
"Oh definitely Bakura, maybe with a long sleeve white shirt, something form fitting." Ryou is so intently staring at the pair of pants in his hand its obvious he is trying to ignore us.
"Yes, then just some glitter to set off his hair and we could take him dancing." I start to hum the tune to Vertigo and Ryou's head finally looks up, a mixture of fear and anger. Not what I was expecting. He turns and starts to stalk off but I grab his arm only to let go when he yells out in pain and grabs his arm. Malik and Marik are there in a second as I help him to his feet.
"Ry, are you okay? What's wrong? We were only playing around." He just keeps clutching his arm so I gently pry it away and pull up his sleeve as Malik gasps. His entire forearm is almost one solid bruise, I grab his other arm and find the same thing.
"Well this explains the long sleeves." Marik just stands there with an expression he usually only wears before someone gets hurt and Malik looks like he is about ready to cry. I go to wrap my arms around his waist again and notice his flinch so swallowing the lump in my throat I start to pull up his shirt. He protests at first but Marik puts one finger on his lips silencing him as I lift it up. It looks like someone has used him for a punching bag a couple of times, the bruises standing out vividly against his pale skin.
"Oh, Ryou-chan." Malik picks up his arm and starts kissing every bruise one at a time then giving his other arm the same treatment. Ryou looks scared when Malik drops to his knees and starts to kiss the bruises on his abdomen.
"W-what are you doing?"
"I'm kissing all your owwies better of course." Ryou looks shocked and then the tears start to fall. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and bury my face in his hair. Marik looks like it is all he can do not to punch something.
"No one has kissed my hurts better in a long, long time." His voice is barely above a whisper. I lean forward so that I can speak softly as well.
"Not since your family died?" He nods. Malik looks up at Ryou's face before gently wrapping his arms around his waist.
"Who did this? Marik's voice is barely more than a growl. "Your Uncle?" Ryou looks shocked.
"No, my uncle might not be the nicest person but he would never physically attack anyone. Believe it or not he is a pacifist, he believe you can control people without physical violence."
"Then who? Where?" Ryou just looks down again.
"School." Malik looks up and gasps.
"People did this to you at school?!" Ryou nods. "But why?" I know why, Marik knows why, I think even Malik knows why so it seems silly to even ask.
"Because they can, because I'm weaker than they, because it makes them happy to hurt others. I'm not the only one and there isn't just one at our school. If you hadn't noticed our school has more than its share of bullies." Marik reaches up and slowly wipes away the tears from Ryou's face as I nuzzle into his hair. Malik stands back up and cups Ryou's cheek.
"Its okay Ryou-chan, you have us now. No one will ever hurt you again." Ryou seems to be more confused than ever.
"But…but why?" Malik leans in and kisses Ryou softly on the lips before running his tongue over Ryou's bottom lip and pulling back.
"Because we like you." Ryou still looks so confused.
"But why? And why now?" He closes his eyes. "I mean, I have been here for three months, why all of the sudden do you notice me?" Marik chuckles which causes all of us to look at him.
"Because Bakura is a stubborn ass."
"Hey! Watch it." I growl back.
"I still don't understand." I figure its time to explain, but not here.
"Come on Ryou, we'll go to my place, order some pizza and explain everything. We have four hours until you have to be home." He nods and pulls his shirt back down into place as Marik and I grab the bags. Malik entwines his fingers with Ryou and gives him another quick kiss on the cheek. Ryou surprises me when he turns his head and kisses Malik back on the cheek. Malik practically beams, I just hope Ryou understands and isn't mad at us. I don't think Malik could take the heartbreak.
The ride to my house was quiet, you could feel the tension in the air. Ryou just kept looking out the window though his jaw did drop when he saw where I live. Its always amusing to me when people first see my house, I guess because I don't flaunt my money they think I don't have it. You would think they would notice the sports car I drive, but no. To say the house was large would be an understatement, now it wasn't a mansion, my parents never believed in flaunting, but it was good size. No I didn't clean, my parents had maids come in twice a week while I was in school to clean. The house was about two and a half to three times the size of the one Ryou lives in, five bedroom, study, library, sun room and then the usual rooms of any house, living room, kitchen etc. Malik was already waiting at the door while Marik came around to help me cart stuff in. I unlocked the door and suggested we go into the living room and get comfy while we sort through this and Malik ordered the pizzas. The whole time as we sorted out what belonged to whom Ryou had a very guilty look on his face.
"Hey Ry, what's wrong?" He looked at all the stuff in his pile, mostly clothes.
"I just, I feel guilty. You bought all of this for me. I spent so much of your money and to be honest I can't even take this stuff home.' He looked at the floor. "I'm sorry." I leaned over using two fingers to lift his chin so I could see his beautiful eyes.
"Ry, don't worry about how much it costs. I bought this stuff for you because I wanted to, because it made you happy. I already figured you couldn't take it home but there is plenty of closet space here to store it and either you change here or I bring the clothes to you. Will that work?" He smiled slowly as if unsure.
"Yes Bakura." I think my eyes about popped out of my head when he leaned forward and kissed my cheek softly. "Thank you." He looked at each of us intently for a moment, my heart sank, I knew what was coming.
"But you still haven't told me why." I sighed and pulled Ryou up against me since we were sharing the couch. Malik walked over to Marik's chair and sat in his lap.
"Okay, you deserve to know. You have to know that in school you haven't stood out, except as being quiet and shy and well, a target." I ran my fingers over one of his bruises gently and he looked down watching my hand. "We tend not to notice people, the three of us have been such close friends for so long. I tried dating, bringing new people into our group. But they just never fit right, it never worked out so eventually I gave up and just turned down anyone that asked me out.
"But that still doesn't…" I place one finger on his lips to quiet him. "I'm getting there. So as I was saying, we didn't notice people, we didn't care. As harsh as that sounds you have to understand Marik and I have been best friends since we were five and Marik met Malik a few years ago and he just fit in with us, like he was supposed to be with us. We could never find that again so we ignored everyone else." Ryou nodded.
"Then how? Because I had to tutor you?"
"No." He looks lost again. "Marik's uncle owns Club Vertigo, Marik works there for fun on Saturday nights." Ryou's eyes went very wide and started to water.
"The white leather comments. I see." He looks ready to cry.
"No you don't Ry. Marik had been trying to get me to come to the club, saying I had to see this guy. I didn't pay attention but after a couple months I got tired of hearing it so I went. Yeah I saw you, and yeah I was entranced. I couldn't say why I just had to know who was dancing. Marik had already figured it out but I couldn't believe it was you, not with how quiet you are at school. So I decided to find out." He looked up at me hurt plainly in his eyes.
"Then I was a game. That's all this has been, a puzzle, something for you to pass time with?!" I hear a sniffle and look over to see Malik is already crying.
"No, Ryou you were never a game. I watched you at school some, I was sure it wasn't you but then that day I walked into chemistry and the teacher stopped me and said he wanted me to have a tutor. Out of everyone he picked you, I was thrilled. I was hoping I would finally know beyond a doubt."
"But you looked so angry about it."
"I always do that, keeps people away. But by Friday I thought I had you all figured out, I soon realized how wrong I was. When you pulled that hidden cd out I was shocked, but then you were still so smart and you helped me, actually helped me without using the opportunity to talk down to me or make me feel dumb. You don't know how much I appreciated that. The real thing though was talking to you after we were done, just sitting in your room talking, by the time I left I found I was hoping it was you." Ryou nodded.
"So first you didn't think I was and then you hoped I was." It was my turn to nod.
"I had my cell on me all day hoping you would call, but I wasn't surprised when you didn't." I watched Ryou blush at this point.
"I thought about it, but I was just too scared to." I gently rub his cheek.
"I understand, no worries about that. Saturday night came and we all went to the club.." Malik interrupted at this point after wiping away some tears.
"Yeah Kura-chan was really a mess. He kept checking his watch every minute and wouldn't sit still! I had to do everything I could to distract him and then when your song started I just about got thrown to the floor." Marik laughed.
"He means that literally, Bakura stood up so fast he had to catch Malik before he hit the floor. We both sat back and laughed at him as he was shoving his way through the crowd. We had never seen Bakura act so desperate." Ryou nodded again.
"I tried to get to you but the bouncers have a standing order no one actually touches you." Ryou looked surprised at this while Marik and Malik laughed nodding in agreement.
"I tried a couple times to get to you but couldn't, you were about to leave and I panicked, I didn't know what to do so I shouted your name." I could see the shock on his face.
"That was you?!" I nod.
"Yeah, you still didn't look up but I saw you flinch, I saw you hesitate. So I knew. After Marik got off work we came here to think up a plan, to think up today." I look down at my lap not sure how he will take it.
"So today, was it a game, a test, or your version of trying to woo me?" I could hear the fear in his voice and Malik starting to cry again. I looked up into his eyes cupping his cheeks.
"Never a game Ry, it was never a game! I don't want you to ever think that. I needed you to meet Malik and Marik, I was certain they would adore you as much as I did and by the time we reached the smoothie place I knew Malik did. I was just worried if you would like them. So if you have to explain it like that, then I guess it was the last two." Ryou looked thoughtful for a moment and I started to release his face thinking it was over and how stupid I was to hope otherwise. Then I felt it, my eyes shot open from shock before sliding closed. His lips on mine, so soft, they were like silk. It was a chaste kiss, just the briefest of touches but it lit my whole world at that moment. We had about a second worth of warning to brace ourselves.
"RYOU-CHAN STILL LOVES US!!!" Malik came lunging over the table and into us kissing every bit of skin he came in contact with, on both of us. Ryou was laughing so hard I doubt he could breath, seems he is very ticklish. Finally Malik calmed down enough that Ryou could get hold of his cheeks and get him to stop. He smiled up at Malik.
"Yes Ryou does." Then very softly kissed Malik's lips. Marik came in a second later carrying three pizza boxes.
"So you guys done molesting Ryou so we can eat?" Malik was up and running but Marik had already lifted the boxes above his head. I grabbed Malik around the waist so Marik could set the pizzas out in safety while Ryou helped him. I released Malik who lunged after the veggie pizza and was now juggling a very hot slice.
"Okay, movie time since we still have three hours, and I pick!" Marik grabbed some movie and put it in, turned out to be Sleepy Hollow which figured since he loved the special effects and mood of it. I pulled Ryou over against me as Marik joined us on the cough and Malik cuddled up to him. Now things fit, now it felt completely whole, I nuzzled Ryou's hair one more time before reaching for the pizza.
And that is the end of that chapter..or is it the end of the fic?? Okay peoples, let me know. I have tons more in my head I can keep going on this story or we can leave it there. I'm not trying to force people to review I just want to know if you feel like this story has hit it's end and I should start another or if you think there should be more to it? Just review and let me know!!....