TO DECEIVE IS TO BELIEVE
By Starflower Sakura
DISCLAIMER: There is absolutely no chance at all that Yu-Gi-Oh would belong to me, okay? Now you made me sad!
To readers/reviewers: I think this is the fastest update I'll ever do... o.0 I have fans! I'm glad you liked it! I enjoy reading humor and romance, but I was never sure if I can write humor. I'm so glad that you guys like it. I didn't take THAT long to update before, right? Right? ... At least I did update! You should be grateful! Anyways, on with the fic!
To Deceive Is To Believe
Chapter 4 – Worth More Than Words
Walking quietly into his morning class, Yugi slowly slid the door closed behind him.
"Good morning," Yugi greeted.
"Good morning," Malik and Ryou answered in reply.
Yugi walked over to them and took his seat. The door slid open once again revealing a graceful and dangerous Kujaku Mai. Her eyes scanned across the barely full classroom and landed on Yugi, Ryou, and Malik. A smirk came onto her lips. She heard that some very interesting things happened the other day and she was here to see for herself.
"Hello, Kaiba," Mai said, walking over to the CEO.
Seto looked up, nodded in acknowledgement of her presence, and started typing in his laptop once again.
"Don't you get tired of working all the time?" Mai asked, looking at her beautifully long nails.
"I have to get it done, you know," Seto retorted.
"I don't know much about owning a company, but I don't believe that the owner should have to work day and night nonstop."
Seto ignored her and Mai rolled her eyes. Mai raised an eyebrow as the girls in their class started coming in. That wasn't what caused the reaction, though, for it was nothing out of the ordinary. What was, however, was the fact that each female that entered the room stopped in exactly the same place, gave a glare to Yugi, then to Ryou, then to Malik, provided a small huff and took her seat.
"How much did I miss the other day?" Mai wondered aloud.
"Quite a lot."
Mai turned towards Seto, not really expecting her question to be answered, especially by a workaholic such as Kaiba Seto here.
"Just how much is 'quite a lot'?" Mai asked.
Seto did one of his trademark smirks, closed his laptop, and looked at Mai.
This must be good if Kaiba is actually stopping work to talk about it.
"You remember the temperature yesterday, right?"
"Yes, it was quite warm."
"Well, imagine being stuck in a room with that temperature outside and with a burning furnace inside."
Mai looked confused, "There was a fire here?"
"There was about to be. Yami, Bakura, and Marik went to talk to those three over there," Seto turned his head to glance at the target of their conversation. "The ladies got jealous, I suppose and sparks were flying everywhere."
Mai laughed, "And to think I missed it."
The door slid open once again and in came Yami, Bakura, and Marik with silly grins on their faces.
This bet I gave them is giving me the show of my life! Mai thought, laughing inwardly.
She watched, amused, as her friends sat down in front of the three and tried talking to them. She had to keep herself from laughing out loud as Malik glared steadily at Marik with a murderous look in his eyes. Yugi started banging his head on the table to the voice of an oblivious Yami and Ryou looked like he was about to doze off nodding every now and then at Bakura's questions and sending out nonsensical answers.
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"It's lunchtime, Malik-kun! Wake up!" Yugi exclaimed, shaking the sleeping boy.
"Hmm? Wha-? Lunch?" Malik said as he lifted his head up and shook the drowsiness out of his lavender-colored eyes.
Ryou smiled at the situation.
"Yes, it's lunch. Yugi and I were wondering if we could steal you away from dreamland for a little while. We promise we'll give you right back," Ryou joked.
Malik grinned at Ryou, "I'm sure they can give up my lovely presence for a while."
Yugi laughed and turned around to walk towards the door only to... bump into someone taller, and fall.
"Ow..." Yugi moaned.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Yugi-chan! Let me help you up," Yami said, pulling Yugi to his feet.
"Motoyoshi-san. Is there something you need today?" Yugi asked, wondering just how soon he would be able to get away.
"Yes, I would like you to come with me. There's something I would love to show you!"
Yugi, being the kind-hearted soul that he is, nodded reluctantly, letting a small smile grace his face as Yami dragged him off. Ryou and Malik looked at one another and suddenly feared for Yugi's well-being. Soon Yugi wasn't the only one that they would have to be worrying about for Marik suddenly appeared in front of Malik.
"How the hell do you keep on popping up like that?!" Malik screamed, for his landing after bumping into Marik was less than graceful.
Marik shrugged, pulled Malik up, and began to drag him out the door.
"Let go of me!! I'm not going to wherever you're taking me!! Stop it!! I'll chop you up, I swear!!"
Ryou sweat dropped as Malik's screams lasted until he was out of the building. Ryou hurried out of the classroom and hoped that Bakura wouldn't catch him. Reaching outside, he looked around. Malik and Yugi were nowhere to be found and fearing for them and for himself, he clumsily pulled himself into a tree.
"This is nice... I'm hiding in a tree that's barely three feet from the ground..."
Ryou took out his lunch and started eating while silently fretting for his friends. He knew that Malik would, more or less, be able to take care of himself, but Yugi was a different story. Yugi wouldn't be able to pick which shark to feed Yami to! Wait... that's not right... he wouldn't be able to pick which knife to stab him with! That's not right either...
Argh! All this worrying is getting my thoughts messed up! Ryou thought.
Ryou hopped out of the three-foot tree and started wandering. He would've continued also if it wasn't for the insistent shouting of "Die!" that came from the left. Being curious, and knowing full well that the voice sounded oddly familiar he headed towards the voice.
"MALIK-KUN!! What are you doing to that poor, defenseless tree?!" Ryou exclaimed, rushing over to help and defend the poor tree that Malik was violently attacking with a dagger.
Ryou stopped in his tracks as he saw Yugi... painting on another tree? Ryou rubbed his eyes. What is going on?
"Malik... why are you stabbing mercilessly at the tree... while Yugi is painting it a bright red?" Ryou questioned.
Malik smirked at him, while Yugi continued to paint fervently on, Ryou noticed, the same spot over and over again.
"I'm sure you'll start doing something to one of these trees as soon as you see Ryusaki," Malik exclaimed, grinning scarily and Ryou backed away... slowly... just in case his friend decided to attack him instead of the tree.
"Oh! Ryou-chan! There you are! I was afraid I missed you!" Bakura's voice rang throughout the courtyard and Ryou noticed a tinge of bitterness.
"Hello, Ryusaki-san," Ryou greeted, bowing politely.
Bakura was about to correct Ryou for if he kept that up the others would be way ahead of him and he wanted to win, damn it! He, though, decided that whatever he called Ryou for was much more important so he dismissed it. Ryou watched as Bakura came closer and he saw the unmistakable mischievous grin on the troublemaker's lips.
If I back up I might get killed by Malik and his illegal dagger. If I stay here I'll meet up with Ryusaki and who knows what he's planning, Ryou thought nervously. Such choices I have.
"Ryou-chan!" Bakura exclaimed, quite forcefully also.
"Is this the part where I run away screaming?" Ryou asked.
Bakura blinked at him, "No, but this could be the part where you tell me that I'm your best friend and you'll do anything for me!"
Ryou stayed silent. He figured that the whole running away and screaming idea didn't seem quite that farfetched after all.
"Look at what I paid someone to paint, Ryou-chan!"
Bakura dragged Ryou towards another tree that was right beside the ones where Malik and Yugi were still trying to disfigure in some way. This made a bit more sense now. Yami, Bakura, and Marik did something on these trees involving them three, and Malik and Yugi, who seen it first were trying to destroy the evidence just in case one of the fan club members saw.
I guess I'll find out what is so horrifying that they're trying to cover it up. It can't be all THAT bad, right?
Ryou smiled sweetly at Bakura and turned to look at the part of the tree where he was pointing at. He froze. Bakura, taking his silence for undeniable shock, grinned from ear to ear.
He likes it so much he's speechless! I'm going to win this for sure! Bakura thought.
"I'll leave you now," Bakura informed an unhearing Ryou.
Ryou stared and stared. He rubbed his eyes, but the image still won't disappear.
"Malik... Yugi..."
The two looked up at their white-haired friend.
"Is there something you want, Ryou?" Yugi asked, while continuing to add more and more paint on the tree.
"Give me something to destroy this tree with," Ryou answered, still staring intently at the image.
They smiled knowingly as Malik handed Ryou an extra dagger that he had. Ryou started chipping away at the image which currently had a painted image of what looked like Bakura and Ryou hugging.
"You think yours is bad. You two are only hugging. I have my freaking head lying on that psychopath's shoulder!" Malik yelled.
"At least you're not being carried bridal style by someone who's practically less than an inch taller than you," Yugi wailed, splashing on more paint.
"Do you think we can have these trees chopped down? Just in case anybody saw it."
"Do you think that they even looked at the images drawn by whoever they hired?! Or maybe they don't realize it, it really isn't that well drawn after all."
"I'm going to question them tomorrow and strangle them for this embarrassment," Malik growled, driving his dagger into the tree.
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"Come to think of it, Bakura..." Yami began. "What did you draw for me on that tree, anyways?"
Bakura smirked and then his expression got curious.
"Marik... tell me just what did you drew on that tree for me."
Marik laughed, "Not until Yami tells me what he drew on mine!"
Yami shook his head, "I'm not telling you anything until Bakura tells me!"
"Nope. That's for me and that Moto kid to know."
They all sighed as none of them would give in. After all, they all valued their lives and have no intention of dying just yet because of what they drew for each other.
To be continued...
There's not much romance in this chapter, I know! I don't know how that got written, but it did and I would not consider rewriting it! Why? It's because I'm lazy, and have no intention of changing anything! Hope you liked this chapter.
- Starflower Sakura