Disclaimer: I don't own Yuugiou… sadly y,y

Ryu: It's been a while but I'm finally ready to move on. I've been getting hits (no reviews though) so I think I'll try a new chapter. I thought of such a twist for this chapter and was all like "OMFG, I'M SO BRILIANT!" so yeah, I'm pretty excited. Just gotta do the boring part first.

Andyouthinkimcrazy: I know; Ryou and Malik together would be cute. I kinda regret the pair-up but I think I'm going to have fun with it. I haven't decided what kind of relationship Malik and Shizuka will have but that'll come to me when the time arises. And even if 'Kura gets cured I'll try to keep him entertaining, though that will probably be the end. I just hope what you said about coming back to read will be true. 9-9

darknightangel: Well, I have time. I'm glad you like my fic and hope you'll continue to read despite t distance between my updates.

Lady11Occult: Calling me predictable? Well then I'll just have to put a twist on it that you won't see. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Kai:Well… you've made your feelings evident toward my leading lady. But come read more, see if you like where it goes.

Ryu: OMG, OMG, OMG, I am so pumped. Having a good night with my fiancée, excited about this chapter, it's all close to orgasmic. Oh yes… yes… YES! Too melodramatic? Oh well, here goes.

Chapter 15: Twists and Turns of Life

"Thank you so much for putting up Ryou and Amane on such short notice Suguroku-san," Bakura said, bowing to the old man.

The old man chuckled a little. "It's no trouble at all," he said, waving it off. "Yugi and Yami will be glad to have the company, especially Yugi."

"I hope they won't be too much trouble for you."

"It'll be okay," Suguroku assured him.

It had been a week since Bakura had revealed the news that he would be going to Germany to seek treatment and now it was almost time he was on his way to the airport. He had at first been curious as to why Ryou had decided to stay with another friend other than Malik but there was so much to do in preparation that there hadn't been much time for questions and answers. He could only assume from the somber state his son had been in since then that something had changed between him and Malik before he'd been able to confess his feelings to the Egyptian boy.

"That's everything otou-san," Ryou said, coming out of the Kame Game Shop, followed by his younger sister and the Mutou twins. The four youths had been busy moving Ryou and Amane's things into the guest room next to Yugi and Yami's. "Shouldn't you be going? You don't want to miss your flight."

Bakura glanced down at his watch and sighed. "Sadly you're right. Time for hugs."

Amane was quick to run into her father's arms while Ryou stood and watched.

"You'll be okay on your own?" the pale boy asked his father.

"I'll be fine," the older man assured him, rising to his feet with his little daughter in his arms. "Besides, Kaiba-san is sending an escort with me to make sure."

"Will you be okay with a stranger?"

"Stop worrying." Bakura set Amane down and approached his son, drawing him into a hug. "Will you be okay?" he asked in a low voice.

"I'll make it otou-san?"

"Make what?"

Ryou sighed and pulled back, half smiling. "Go before your plane leaves."

"Am I going somewhere?" Bakura asked , confused.

"Go," all present exclaimed.

The white-haired man thought a moment and then remembered. "Oh yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his head while everyone else sweat-dropped. "Everyone take care," he said with a wave as he climbed into the limo Seto had sent them for the day.

Ryou looked on forlornly as the limo drove away. He hadn't said anything to his father about him and Malik but it would seem that Bakura had picked up on it quickly; not that Ryou didn't make it obvious. But he also worried if his father would be okay on this trip, and whether or not there was really a cure waiting for him. "Otou-san…"

"He'll be okay," said the taller of the twins, coming up next to Ryou. "But what about you?"

"What do you mean Yami-san?"

The gothic boy looked at the albino, who looked back. "It's written all over your face," he pointed out. "You're upset over something."

"I don't now what you mean."

"Really? So Malik-kun dating Shizuka-chan doesn't bother you?" he asked low so that only Ryou heard.

Ryou tensed at the mention of the two names. Yami was always good at telling these things. He was like a spirit that could read other's thoughts and know what they were thinking, probably part of why he was such a good gamer. But he wasn't going to make that common knowledge if he could avoid it. He was a guest in Yami's house, it wouldn't be right to bring in such depressing thoughts.

"I had my chance with both of them and I messed up both times," he said with a false shrug. "It's my own fault so I have no right to mope and cry about it. Besides, I'm sure they're really happy together."

"At least Shizuka-chan is," Yami huffed.

"I'm sure Malik is too," Ryou said, trying to sound happy now while staring into the sky. "Otherwise he wouldn't have asked her."

"He didn't."

Now Ryou looked back at the boy questioningly.

"Shizuka asked him out," Yami explained. "The day after the party. I heard you said some harsh stuff to him when everyone left but the next day he still seemed like he wanted to be with you. I'm actually surprised he'd go with Shizuka, but I'm sure he somehow thought doing so would help you."

Ryou was just staring blankly, lost in thought. He'd assumed he'd finally driven the Egyptian away and so he'd gone to Shizuka to escape the heartbreak. True, Shizuka had said after that day in the park that she would take Malik but he thought she was just boasting. He didn't think she'd really do it. But then again, why had he thought Malik would change his mind so quickly. His head fell into his hand and he groaned softly.

"Ryou-kun…" Yami said softly. "If you still have feelings for Malik-kun you need to tell him."

Ryou shook his head and then looked up at the boy with the spiky hair, smiling. "It's okay Yami-san. They're together now and I shouldn't interfere. Maybe they'll break up and I can catch Malik on the rebound," he tried to add as a joke.

'Ryou-kun…'

"Onii-san," Amane called, coming to her brother with Yugi. "Yugi-san wants to show me all the games in the back room. Can I go? Please, can I?"

"Only if you're careful," Ryou replied, ruffling her hair. "And don't touch anything without asking."

"You too Yugi," Yami teased as his brother and the little girl ran back to the store.

"See, I have my little sister now," Ryou said wistfully to Yami when the other two had gone. "And Malik and Shizuka have each other. And with any luck soon I'll have my dad back too. So it works out okay. Malik can be happy with Shizuka."

Yami shook her head at boy, not wanting to believe that what Ryou was saying was how he really felt. Not that the lie was difficult to catch anyway.

"Well, I'm worn out from moving stuff," Ryou yawned, stretching. "I'm gonna go lay down for a while. Let me know if Amane gets to be too much trouble." He didn't wait for a reply to start back to the house, but was stopped anyway.

"Ryou-kun…"

He turned and looked at the other boy again.

"Did… did you really do that to Malik-kun?"

Ryou tilted his head in confusion.

Yami sighed. "The others don't know, but I overheard Malik and Shizuka talking the other day; about you. Did you really sleep with Malik the night before the party?"

Ryou bit his lip, trying to hold back tears. "How did he sound?"

Yami raised a brow at the counter question, but answered, "They didn't talk about it long, but from what I heard from him he sounded pretty devastated."

"I see…"

"It's true then?" Yami asked, though he already knew the answer.

Ryou hesitated a moment, then said, "I'm tired," and turned to go to bed.

"It is true," Yami sighed to himself, watching the platinum colored boy disappear into the shop. "And yet Malik still loves him despite it. Poor Malik-kun…"

/SCHOOL, THE NEXT DAY/

"Who can tell me what a will equal if…"

Ryou hadn't listened to a drawling word from any of his teachers all day. All he did was stare at the batch of corn flour-colored hair that sat adjacent to him. Ever since Malik had told him they were going out they had avoided speaking to one another. Both were somewhat relieved that the gang hadn't wanted to get together, both dreaded when they would.

He snapped out of his daze when a folded piece of paper dropped onto his desk. He checked to make sure it was safe to read it and did when he was sure. It read:

Everyone, Seto's birthday is this weekend and Mokuba's gonna help us throw a surprise party while Miho distracts him. /wink/Make sure you can come and pass it on.
Jou

Ryou re-read the message to make sure he understood and then began to fold the page up again when he caught sight of something that looked like it had been scribbled on in a hurry.

Sorry Ryou, but you're the only one that sits close enough to Malik, please pass it on to him. Yami PS: Might want to cross this out.

Ryou smirked while scribbling darkly over Yami's words. When he was done he refolded the note and, leaning forward when the teacher wasn't looking, tossed it onto Malik's desk.

Malik looked at the piece and turned around. He Ryou was the only of his friends close enough to give it to him but the albino boy was staring up at the blackboard. Sighing, he opened the note and read it over, realizing it wasn't even from Ryou and looking sadly.

Ryou watched as the Egyptian boy crumpled the paper and stuffed it into his bag with a solemn look on his face. He wondered why he looked so down but wasn't going to dare ask. He still couldn't bring himself to talk to Malik, and the other boy hadn't said anything to Ryou either. He feared that they wouldn't even be able to stay friends over this whole thing but then he'd expected that. Who would want to be with Ryou after what he did. Malik did, Ryou had thought; part of him thought maybe he still did. But Malik was with Shizuka now so it didn't mattered, and Ryou was left all alone.

'Not that I'm not used to loneliness,' he thought to himself.

He spent the rest of the class trying to hold back threatening tears. He was thankful when lunchtime came and he could escape. Lately he'd taken to eating alone against a tree outside in the school's courtyard as opposed to his usual sitting with his friends. It was the only way to avoid Malik, who was yet to look for him. Rou assumed his friends either didn't care or understood his desire. Either way they were leaving him alone, and he wished they wouldn't.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

Ryou looked up from his lunch to see, not Malik, but a different dark-skinned figure with corn flour colored hair.

"What do you mean Mariku-san?" Ryou asked innocently.

The older Egyptian boy raised a brow. "Don't act like nothing's going in. Someone with your past excluding himself from the first friends he's had in so long; it's not believable without a real motive. But since you think you can feign innocence I'll be more direct. How long are you going to avoid my little brother?"

Ryou bit his lip now, unsure of what to say. Even though they got along he was still confused as to whether or not he could really call Mariku a friend and so didn't know if he really trusted him enough to talk about this with him.

"I don't mind missing class if I have to wait that long," Mariku told him, sitting down against the side of the tree with his arms folded behind his head.

Ryou was surprised that Mariku would say that but doubted it was true. Still, time passed and Mariku didn't move; didn't say a word, but didn't move.

"I'm not sure what I should do," he finally confessed.

"What is there to do?" Mariku asked boredly, not looking at him.

"It's just… I finally decided Malik-kun was the right one for me," Ryou explained. "But when I called to tell him he was already with Shizuka-chan."

"I know, I was there when Shizuka called him," Mariku confirmed. "And I was in the car when Rishid dropped him off at the café."

"Why didn't you stop him then?" Ryou asked more bitterly.

"Shouldn't you be asking him rather why he didn't stop himself?" Mariku countered.

Ryou flinched at the remark. He'd been wondering that himself. Perhaps Yami had been right when he said Malik might have done it for him but he couldn't tell. The only way to truly know would be to ask the boy, and he couldn't bring himself to do that.

"If you want my advice then you should tell my brother how you feel," Mariku said after as brief silence. "Maybe then he'll come back to you. He still loves you, you know."

Ryou's heart clenched, afraid of that truth. He knew that Malik still loved him, knew that if he came forward about it he'd probably win the Egyptian for himself. But he didn't feel right about breaking up Malik and Shizuka.

"You're worried about the girl?" Mariku asked after more silence.

"Stop reading my mind," Ryou blurted out. He quickly blushed and withdrew back to his own thoughts. "Even though Shizuka-chan hurt me I just can't bear to be the cause of a problem for the two of them. What if they end up happy together?"

"Do you care if they do? Wouldn't you rather fulfill your own happiness?"

"No," Ryou answered without hesitating. "If there's a possibility they'll be happy then I shouldn't get in the way, not until they've had a chance to see if they want to be together."

"You're a better person than I've ever known," Mariku said offhandedly.

"You're pretty okay yourself," Ryou joked. "Hey, there's a party for Seto-kun's birthday this weekend. I'm sure you'll get invited, I think the others are starting to like you."

Mariku only huffed and got up from his spot. "Thanks. But if I can't help you I'm going back to class, I need a nap."

"You did help a little," Ryou admitted, though he didn't look up. "Thanks for just being there, Mariku-san." He did look up when a little piece of paper with the number 748-2591 scribbled on it drifted into his lap.

"My number… in case you want to talk more," Mariku said flatly before starting off toward the school.

Ryou stared somewhat dumbfounded at the paper a moment. Then he shook his head and called after the Egyptian, "Thank you, Mariku-san."

He received a small wave in reply and smiled. For the rest of the day he was in a cheerful mood. He'd even managed an awkward, somewhat timid, 'hi' to Malik on the way out of school. For some reason he was feeling a little better no that he'd gotten some things out. It even lasted for the next few days until it was time for the party.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to come onii-san?" Amane asked.

"Of course," Ryou said, combing his hair in the mirror. "Everyone will be there and would love to see you again. Besides, Mokuba-kun will be there too, so you won't be the only kid there."

Amane huffed and crossed hr arms, pouting at being called a kid.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Ryou said.

Into the room entered the Mutou twins, both dressed in black leather and silk with chains hanging from their pants and collars at their necks. They'd both down their nails and eyes in black and had sprayed their hair with sparkling hair spray to honor the occasion.

"Are you guys ready?" Yugi asked excitedly. "Jou said to be there by four to help set up."

"Relax, Kaiba and Miho will be out till six," Yami said casually.

"I'm all ready to go," Amane said, hopping off the bed. She was dressed in a long-sleeved pink dress and her hair was braided behind her. She'd asked Ryou to let the twins put some make-up on her but he didn't like the idea of the Goths getting close to his sister. He did give in though when Mrs. Mutou offered to, but it was only a little blush and eyeliner.

"Okay, I guess I'm ready too," Ryou said. He was wearing a faded pair of jeans and a short-sleeved, pale blue shirt that buttoned up the front. He'd tried to tame the mess atop his head that was his hair but had failed and now given up. "Let's go," he said, pocketing his phone.

The drive to the party was the usual craziness that being in Yami's car always was and when they got out Ryou and Amane both kissed the ground and thanked God they made it alive.

"Stop over-reacting you two," Yami laughed.

"How come we parked so far away?" Amane asked as they turned the corner toward the mansion.

"Because we don't want Kaiba-san to see Yami-san's car and know we're here," Ryou explained.

They entered through the gates and walked up driveway to the estate where they were let in by the butler and lead into the large living room.

"It's about time you got here," Jou yelled to them from atop the ladder he was standing on, trying to hang a sign that read Happy Birthday You Jerk.

"Is that the right banner Jou?" Ryou asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Why do you ask?" Jou wondered honestly.

The other's laughed and went about hanging streamers, setting out food from the large kitchen, Amane having to restrain her brother now an then while Mai had to Jou, and hanging a large party boy filled with confetti over the doorway.

"How come no one got Kaiba-san a present?" Amane asked.

"He's loaded," Jou said flatly. "He has everything we could possibly get him and everything else we couldn't to boot."

"The party is our present to him," Ryou explained.

"I think the only one that really can give him something is Miho-chan," Mai joked, causing everyone to laugh except for Ryou, who blushed, and Amane, who was just confused. Even the little Mokuba got the innuendo.

"Where should the cake go onii-chan?"

Ryou froze at the voice and turned to see Shizuka walking into the room, wearing a pink apron and covered in flour and frosting. For a moment Ryou thought he felt his confusion about which one he would chose coming back, but then he remembered that day in the park and shook his head, standing by his position with Malik. 'Of course she's here,' he reminded himself, shaking his head.

"Are you okay onii-san?" Amane asked.

"I'm okay," Ryou lied, going back to what he was doing. And as if things weren't hard enough for him the Ishtar brothers walked in.

"I told you if we waited long enough we wouldn't have to help," he heard Mariku say, receiving an eye roll from his brother.

Ryou froze as Malik went straight to Shizuka, but sighed with relief that they didn't kiss, merely hugged and he wondered if maybe it wasn't meant for them to be together after all. 'Maybe I should talk to him.'

"Ryou-kun," Malik waved when his girlfriend had gone back into the kitchen. He crossed the room to the albino boy. "Um… how are you?"

"Okay…" Ryou replied nervously. "How are thing's with you and Shizuka-chan?"

Malik flinched a little at the question. "Well… a little tense," he admitted, ten laughed and added, "Probably just because we just started going out a week ago. Give it time and things will be okay." His voice sounded sincere but there was something else held within those words.

"That's… good to hear," Ryou said, trying to sound supportive. "I'm glad all that ugliness is over and we can all go on with our friendship."

"So… you're okay with the two of us?" Malik asked. It was clear in his voice that he wanted Ryou to say no but the albino boy didn't want to interfere.

"Of course. I'm sure the two of you will be happy together," he lied. 'Why don't I want to interfere?'

"Well, only time will tell," Malik said dismally.

"I hid it onii-san," Amane said, coming out from under the table. "Oh, hello Malik-san."

"Hi there Amane-chan," Malik said, putting on a happy face. "What did you hide?"

"Will you watch Amane-chan? I'm gonna go see if Jou needs help," Ryou said quickly, walking away from the nervous situation.

They avoided each other throughout the preparations and then tried to keep their distance while they all waited. Only when Seto and Miho walked in and everyone jumped up to yell, surprise, did they both put up their happy guises and try to enjoy themselves. The next few hours was spent filled with talking, gaming, food, and merriment.

"You seem to be having a pretty good time."

Ryou looked up from his plate at Mariku that sat down next to him and sighed. "I just don't want my personal problems to interfere with the fun of Kaiba-kun's birthday. Besides, it's nice to be out and about with everyone."

"Then why are you all alone over here?"

"Well, I feel like the odd man out," Ryou confessed, giving his fork a rest for the first time in a while and staring blankly at his food. "Malik and Shizuka are trying to force things between themselves, Kaiba and Miho are happy, Amane and Mokuba are hitting it off, Yugi and Yami are always together, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some incest between them, and I think Jou and Mai went up to one of the bedrooms. Everyone's paired off but me."

"Everyone?" Mariku asked.

Ryou's head shot up and he looked at the boy. "Oh, I'm sorry Mariku-san. It's just, um, well…"

Mariku gave a small huff of laughter. "It's okay. I know, I'm the real oddball here. I'm not really even part of the group, just the tag along that everyone glares at when they can."

"Doesn't that ever bother you?"

Mariku looked over at him. "Does loneliness bother you?"

Ryou opened his mouth to answer but n words came out and he only nodded.

"Well then there you go."

They both remained quiet now, watching as the others carried on.

"Guess we're two of a kind, huh," Ryou tried to say. Then it hit him; the answer to everything. He didn't have to be alone. "Um… Mariku-san…"

"Huh?"

"Well… um…" A faint flush painted over the boy's cheeks and he looked away.

"What is it?" the Egyptian asked tonelessly.

'Why am I even considering this?' Ryou wondered. Then he sighed and said, "It's nothing, forget I said anything."

"Okay," Mariku shrugged off. Both stayed quiet a moment. "Ryou-kun," he said when the pale boy was quiet.

"Yes?"

"I will," Mariku answered to Ryou's unspoken question. He rose from his seat. "If you really want to that is," he said before staring away.

Ryou watched as he left the room and disappeared up the grand staircase out in the entrance hall. He sat there a moment, staring around the room at all the happy couples, and then got up from his spot. No one noticed as he to exited the room and ascended the stairs. He walked along the hall, passing one door that he could here the sounds of movement and heavy breathing behind.

"Found Mai and Jou," he chuckled, continuing down the hall. He came across a door that was slightly ajar and pushed it open. Inside, lying on the large bed of one of the guest rooms he'd entered, was Mariku, lying with his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling.

Shyly Ryou closed the door completely behind him and then crept over to the bed. He crawled into it laid down next to the Egyptian boy, wrapping his arms around him. "Will you be the one to keep me company?" he asked in a cute, tired voice.

Something about the albino boy melted Mariku's heart and he placed an arm around him, noticing for the first time how soft that white mane really was. "My mind hasn't changed in the past few minutes," he answered in somewhat cold tones. But there was a kindness to his voice and Ryou smiled, cuddling into the older boy's warm body and soon drifting into a light sleep.

Ryu: Now I know there's no one that can tell me they saw that coming. I must say I'm very proud of myself and can't wait to see where I take it. Where am I going to take it/…/ Oh well, I guess we'll wait and see. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I tried to make it a little longer than the last and got about 11 pages so I'm happy. Depending on how things go with my life and how soon I get some review I may update quickly. But we'll wait and see, I'm heading into either the greatest or the worst 4th of July week of my life and that will play a huge roll in how soon an update comes. Until then, please leave me a review and tell me if you liked it, hated it, what could change, what was good, etc, etc. Until next time.