Title: Live a Little
Rating: PG13/R
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! But if I did, oh there would be so much yaoi!
Warnings: Yaoi, OOC-ness

Chapter Two

"Malik! Hurry up!" Ishizu called to her youngest brother. Shaking her head, she smacked Marik's hand as he tried to steal some cooked bacon. Her black hair was down again, save for two pieces, each with a gold ribbon wrapped around them. Her blue eyes were lined in black eyeliner, accenting the natural shape of her eyes. "I swear, Marik doesn't even take this long, and he spikes his hair and puts on makeup!"

"Hey! All I wear is eyeliner!" Marik countered, glaring at his sister. Violet eyes narrowed, outlined in thick, black eyeliner, extending down and across his cheek, sharp points extending out. Black, leather pants clung to his legs like a second skin, strategically placed opening displaying the tan flesh beneath. Blonde, spiked hair stood up and out in all directions, adding inches to his height. The black, spaghetti strap tank top was covered by the deep red mesh shirt, toned and defined muscles moved under the flimsy cloth. "Besides, who steals my stuff?"

Malik came hopping down the hall on one foot, shoving his other show on. "Sorry! But I don't get up at the crack of dawn like Marik!" he stated, taking the plate handed to him. The baggy jeans hung off his hips, down a little lower then his brother or sister would have liked. The red shirt fell around his chest, much more modest then what Marik wore. Like his brother, his violet eyes incased in black eyeliner, in the exact design. It was something they had done since Marik had entered freshman year, and it had never changed. Blonde hair framed his face, lying against his neck.

"I don't get up at the crack of dawn, I just get up when the alarm goes off," Marik grumbled. Sighing in frustration, he ripped the sheet of paper from his notebook, crumbling it into a ball, and throwing it over his shoulder.

Ishizu shook her head and patted Marik's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll get it down on paper eventually," she stated.

Marik nodded, shutting his notebook. "Malik, hurry up, I'm not going to be late again because you can't get up on time," he stated, shoving the book into his bag and standing. "I'll go get the car started." Grabbing the keys from Ishizu, he left the apartment.

Rolling his eyes, Malik finished his glass of orange juice, and took his dishes into the kitchen. "That song is really starting to get to him, isn't it?" he questioned.

Ishizu nodded. "I can hear him at night, messing with his guitar, trying to find the right words." Shaking her head, she grabbed her books, heading towards the door. "Lock the door on your way out," she ordered as she left.

Sighing, Malik ran the warm water over his dirty dishes long enough to quick clean them. Shutting off the water, he jogged from the kitchen, grabbing his bag as he headed towards the door. Taking his keys from the table, he left the apartment, locking the door behind him.

Jogging down the stairs, he went to the parking lot, searching for the car. Smirking, he went over to the black vehicle, Ishizu in the driver's seat, Marik in the back, stretched out on the seat, plucking away at the acoustic guitar. Grinning, Malik got into the passengers side, clicking the seat belt on.

The driver to school was short. They did not turn on the radio; instead, they listened to Marik as he played his guitar. They did not turn on the radio: instead they listened to Marik as he played his guitar. When they got to the school, Malik got out of the car and rook Marik's guitar. Once his brother was out of the car, he handed him back the instrument.

The Ishtar siblings walked into the school, splitting up as they headed towards their lockers. Malik walked up to his locker, quickly undoing the combination lock. Opening the dull green door, he switched out his books, grabbing the books for his first three classes.

"Excuse me." Turning, Malik had a sense of déjà vu. Standing before him was the person from the night before, but much shorter. His brown eyes shone brilliantly, radiating the warmth and happiness, smile on his face. "I need to get to my locker," he said, voice soft, British accent apparent.

"Sorry," Malik said, shutting the door, move out of his way. The smaller boy knelt down, looking at the slip of paper, undoing the combination lock with ease. He started putting everything into his locker. "Did you just move here?" Malik asked. As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how dumb it sounded.

The boy nodded, smiling softly. "I moved here with my mum and brother," he answered. "My name's Ryou."

"The name's Malik," the blonde stated. "So, does your brother go here?"

Ryou nodded. "He's a senior, and I have to get outside to meet him."

"Where are you supposed to meet?" Malik asked. "Maybe I can help you find your way."

Ryou nodded. "That would be nice, this place is huge, and I've already gotten lost." After he had gotten his books, the white haired teen stood. The blonde walked along side him as the headed to the front doors.

"So, why did you move here?" Malik asked.

Ryou shrugged. "Our mother decided to move us here," he said. "She never really explained why."

Nodding, Malik walked out the front doors with Ryou. "So, where are you supposed to meet your brother?" he asked.

"He said to meet him by the group of trees out front," Ryou answered. "He doesn't really want to be here, so he might seem a little grumpy."

Malik nodded. "Its okay, my older brother is kinda pissy today. He might already be at those same trees." Shrugging, he smiled. "We all meet there in the morning."

Walking over to the oak trees, Malik went over to his brother, who sat on the table, plucking at his guitar. Next to him was a friend of theirs, plucking his own guitar. Ice blue eyes went back and forth between Marik's fingers and his own. Dark brown hair framed his face, falling down his neck. Long, pale fingers followed down the fingerboard, keeping in time with long, tan ones.

Malik smiled as the two teen s stopped playing, looking up at him and the British teen. "Ryou, this is my older brother, Marik, and our friend, Seto Kaiba. Guys, this is Ryou."

Ryou smiled softly, looking over at Seto and Marik. "Hello, I like what you were playing," he stated.

"Is that the song you're working on?" Malik asked his brother.

Marik nodded, setting the guitar on the table. "Did you see the rest of our friends?" he asked.

Malik shook his head. "No, I decided to help Ryou find his brother," he stated. He walked over to the table and took his brother's guitar.

"What's he look like?" Marik asked, getting off the table. "Seto's great at finding a single person in a crowd of a few hundred," he stated.

"You're just pissed because you could never find Waldo," Seto countered, playing along side Malik.

Ryou smiled. "Bakura is taller then me, but we look like twins," he explained. Nodding, Seto looked up from his guitar, eyes scanning the area. "You don't need to look for him; this is where he told me to meet him. At least, I think this is."

"Hey, Yugi!" Malik set his brother's guitar on the table and went over to the other boy. Ryou glanced over and found Malik talking to a boy with blood red eyes, and spiked, tri-colored hair. The blonde said something to Yugi and he nodded.

"Yugi, do you know where Yami is? We need to get into the band room and get ready," Marik stated.

"I think he's already there," Yugi answered. "He wasn't at his locker."

Marik sighed. "Alright, c'mon, Seto," he called, grabbing his bag and guitar. "Nice meeting you, Ryou," he said, walking past the small teen. Seto grabbed his bag and followed after Marik, nodding his good-bye to Ryou.

----------

Malik walked into the band room with the rest of their friends, now including Ryou and his older brother, Bakura. When the blonde Egyptian saw the older, brown eyed teen, he could feel his throat close, breathing catching in his chest.

The taller, white haired teen wore large, baggy jeans. Chocolate brown eyes scanned the area, face framed by his hair that fell past his shoulders. Milky flesh was covered y the long sleeve, black shirt. Black eyeliner surrounded dark eyes, pulling into points at the corners.

The small group went over to the three guitarists, electric guitars already plugged into the amps. Yami was on the base guitar, the black instrument flush against his hips. Black, leather pants lay against his legs; black, buckled boots going up his calf. Red eyes were outlined by eyeliner, pulled out in to corners. Black silk shirt framed his chest. Denim jacked was pulled up tight, the collar flaring out, bondage collar around his neck.

"Just a word of warning; Yami and Yugi just look like twins, but are in no way related," Malik whispered. "So when they start making out, don't worry."

Ryou stared at Malik, then nodded. One of the boys in the back pushed forward, walking towards Seto. Bright green eyes scanned the tall guitarist's body, a smile on his face as he sat in one of the chairs. Black hair held tight in a ponytail, a few pieces falling strategically around his face, red and black bandana around his head. Long legs stretched out from him, crossed at the denim-clad ankles. Bare, tan, muscled arms were exposed out the red, sleeveless vest, and sleeveless black tank top.

"Are they dating?" Ryou questioned softly.

"Who; Seto and Duke?" Malik inquired and Ryou nodded. "Yeah, they have been for a little over a year. So are Yami and Yugi, that's why I warned you." Shrugging, he went over to the music storage room and took out his guitar.

"We need a drummer," Seto stated. "Why did the mutt leave this class?"

Yami rolled playful eyes. "He left because he fell behind in two of his classes, so he was pulled out and put into study hall," he explained, strong voice emanating from his lips.

Marik rolled his eyes. "That's the third time this year," he stated. "Eventually, they're going to stick him in there permanently."

Malik laughed, shaking his head. "Why did they put him in study hall if he's supposed to be here?" Ryou asked, sitting in one of the blue chairs.

"It's one of the school policies," Duke answered. "If you have anything lower then a C in two classes, you're pulled from an elective and put in study hall," he explained, messing with the long, dice-ended earring.

"Joey could have given up PE, but he loves being active, so he gave up band instead," Yugi added.

Ryou processed the information and shrugged, "Well, Bakura plays the drums," he informed them.

Seto looked up from his guitar, glancing at Ryou's brother. "Are you any good?" he asked, tuning his guitar.

Bakura shrugged. "Better then most, a novice to some," he answered, his deep, cool voice traveling through the room.

Yami raised an elegant eyebrow. "A modest drummer? Marik, I think Horace succeeded in killing Anubis," he commented.

"Damn, he's my favorite God, too," the blonde guitarist stated, shrugging. Walking over to the set of drums, he grabbed the two sticks and tossed them to Bakura. "Let's see what you can do," he said, taking his place next to Seto.

Bakura caught the sticks, rolling the smooth wood around his fingers. Walking up the raised steps, the tall drummer took a seat behind the drum set. "What are you playing?" he asked.

Marik glanced at Seto and Yami. "Ever heard of The Used?" he asked.

Bakura nodded. "Ryou's fixated on Lunacy Fringe," he commented.

"Then we'll play that," Yami said, strumming the bass guitar.

"Are you going to be singing?" Duke asked Seto, looking up at the brunette.

Seto shook his head. "Our resident lunatic sings this song," he said as he and Yami turned towards Marik.

Marik grinned, switching places with Seto. "I can't help it if I do crazy shit," he said, turning up the volume on his guitar.

"Good luck," Yami said to Bakura as the song started. The room instantly filled with the sounds of guitars, Marik and Seto playing along side each other. Yami was on Marik's other side, strumming out the loud bass line. Behind them, Bakura pounded on the drums, moving swiftly between each piece, keeping up with the group.

"Wake up-my love-never thought you'd make me-break me," Marik half sang, half spoke, accenting the break between each phrase.

Down in the chairs, the group stared at the band, watching the four of them. Ishizu reached into her bag and pulled out the digital camera. Getting up from her char, she moved off to the side of Marik so she could get all of them in the picture. Turning on the flash, she lined up the shot, getting them all in the picture. She took the photo, bright light filling up the room, and the music stopped.

"Ishizu!" Yami cried, rubbing his eyes. "That's really bright off the guitars."

"Good Ra, Ishizu," Marik growled, shaking his head.

"Hey, you guys take a good picture," Duke commented, looking at the picture Ishizu took.

"Let me see," Yugi ordered, standing behind Duke, taking the camera. "Mm, sexy!" he commented. "Look!" He went up the stairs and over to Yami.

The taller teen took the camera, examining the digital picture. He flipped through saved picture of the band, finding one with Joey. The tall blonde fit in the group, but with his green jacket, he stood out too much. Turning back to the picture with Bakura, he went to Marik. "He looks good with us," he whispered.

Marik looked down on the picture and nodded. "He does," he agreed. "Yo, Seto, come over here." Taking the camera from Yami, Marik handed it to the other teen. "What do you think?"

The tall CEO examined the picture and glanced back to Bakura, then to Marik. "He does, and I like our sound with him," he said.

"So, who's the new drummer?" Everyone looked up to fine Mai Valentine standing in the doorway with Tristan Taylor and Joey Wheeler.

"He sounds great!" Joey stated, walking into the room towards the group. He wore his

signature green jacket, white shirt underneath, pale blue jeans hanging off his hips. Brown

eyes watched the band, going to sit in one of the chair. "Play something else," he ordered.

Marik rolled his eyes. "Don't you have studying to do?" he asked.

Joey stuck his tongue out. "No!" he said with a small pout. "So, who's the new

drummer?"

Yugi pointed to Bakura, the drummer adjusting the drum set. "That's Bakura, and that's his younger brother, Ryou."

"Nice to meet you," Mai said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, moving into the room, sitting next to Joey. Magenta eyes stared up at the band, smile on her face. "So, are you going to play something else?" she questioned.

Sighing, Marik turned to Seto and whispered into his ear. When the brunette nodded, he and Marik switched places while Yami handed the camera off to Yugi before the smaller teen hopped down from the raisers. "Let's see if you can keep up," Seto said to Bakura before he started roughly strumming on the guitar, loud music emanating from the amp.

"Small, simple, safe price."Marik said, a slight growl in his voice. "Rise the wake and carry me with all of my regrets. This is not a small cut that scabs, and dries, and flakes, and heals. And I am not afraid to die. I'm not afraid to bleed, and fuck, and fight. I want the pain of payment. What's left, but a section of pigmy size cuts. Much like a slew of a thousand unwanted fucks. Would you be my little cut? Would you be my thousand fucks? And make mark leaving space for the guilt to be liquid. To fill, and spill over, and under my thoughts. My sad, sorry, selfish cry out to the cutter. I'm cutting trying to picture your black broken heart. Love is not like anything. Especially a fucking knife."

When Marik finished with his piece, the rest of the band joined in, the room filling with blaring guitars, Bakura on the drums. They swayed to the music, heads tossing from side to side with the beat, keeping step. Seto looked up to the group, all of them with grins on their faces. "Look at me! Can you tell, by the way I love and do my hair? Do you think that it's me, or is it not even me?" he sang, shrieking his voice on purpose. He continued to sing along, Marik playing at his side along him. Bakura was keeping up, banging on the drums as hard as he could to get the sound above three electric guitars.

However, the band was interrupted towards the end of the song, the loud bang of a book hitting a table causing them all to jump, and unfortunately for Marik, making him snap a guitar sing. Then metal wire flew back, catches Marik's wrist, cutting in. "Good fucking Ra!" Marik cursed, pulling his arm back as it started to bleed.

"Marik!" Ishizu was out of her chair and over to her brother almost instantly, along with the band members.

"Jackass," Someone called out with a laugh. "Did little Marik hurt himself."

Marik looked up with a glare. "What are you doing here, Keith?" he demanded. "You were kicked out of bad, get lost."

Keith grinned, running a hand through his blonde hair before pulling on his American flag bandana. "I have as much right to be here as you do," he stated. "Just because you can't play your instrument and hurt yourself is no reason it get pissy with me."

Yami shook his head. "Just get lost," he ordered. "No one feels like dealing with you."

Keith grinned. "I just had to stop by though, I heard drummer and wanted to see the newest member to your loser band," he explained.

Bakura glared at him. "I'm staring at the only loser," he stated.

Keith sneered. "You're new here, so allow me to introduce myself. I'm Bandit Keith, a senior, and I run this damn school. So it'd be smart of you to stay out of my way," he said.

Bakura was about to respond, but Marik put his clean hand on his shoulder. "Get lost, Keith, before I'm forced to take care of you myself, and even injured, I can still kick your ass," he stated.

The blonde couldn't help but laugh. "Funny, Ishtar, very funny," he sneered, turning and storming from the band room.

Seto shook his head. "C'mon, Marik, I'll walk with you to the nurse," he said, grabbing the blonde Egyptian's arm and leading him from the room.