Chapter 3: Thoughts run amok

Yugi huffed and puffed as he bolted down the hallway to his next class. He was already late because he took a detour to thank Mariku. And it didn't help any that he went to the bathroom afterwards. To make matters worse, his pants zipper got stuck, and it broke when he finally zipped his pants up. Not to mention that when he ventured out into the hallways, a hall monitor spotted him. Despite the truth that was given, Yugi Moto was granted another detention for potentially skipping.

With two detentions under his belt, the teen had a lot to explain to his grandfather. That is, if his grandfather ever found out. Thankfully Grandpa was out of town due to a convention that would feature more games and cards for the shop. 'So as long as I serve my detentions while Grandpa's gone, he doesn't have to know. And what he doesn't know won't hurt him.' The boy thought, smirking as he slowed down his pace. 'Now to get Atemu not to say anything.'

Before long, his feet carried him to his math class. Nervously knocking on the door, Yugi gulped as an unfamiliar face opened the door. "Welcome to Algebra. I'm the sub for today. Just call me Asahi." A thin pale face, smiled at the teen, with a toothpick hanging on the edge of his lips. Leaving the door wide open, the sub allowed Yugi in with no questions asked.

Eyeing the man with mild curiosity, the teen took his seat beside Ryou, setting his stuff down. When he was settled, a note was tossed his way, and Ryou smiled weakly, almost as if he were apologizing for something. The note was as follows:

Hey there, Yugi. I got wind of what happened, and I just want to say that I'm sorry on Bakura's behalf. He certainly is a handful, isn't he? Father's been paying for anger management classes for him, and he's actually been going. Though that's only because I've been going with him. Oh me, I've gone on a tangent. Sorry about that. I just thought his bulling days were over. He's been a great help at home, and I thought he'd be nicer to you and the others. I'll talk to him about it, if he comes home tonight. I'm really sorry about him. He's not all that bad if you give him a chance.

Yugi grabbed a pen and wrote back.

It's fine, Ryou. It's not your fault. Bakura's just that way, I suppose. From what Atemu has told me, Bakura was very similar today as he was thousand of years ago. It's just how he is. Did you hear that he, (meaning Bakura) punched Mariku? I was shocked, and wouldn't have believed it, unless I saw it myself. Mariku kinda defended me, and Bakura punched him in turn. Then blamed it all on me! I went and thanked Mariku. I don't know, but there's something about that guy. It just doesn't add up. First all he wants is to take over the world, and stuff, but since he finally got his own body…he seems…I dunno, nicer. Maybe it's just me. I actually felt safe around him. Oh, and he played with my hair! It felt funny, but in a good way. I kinda got butterflies around him. What do you think that means?

Passing the note back, he took out his math book and turned to the page the teacher wrote on the board. Since it was a sub, they just had to do assigned problems on the board then turn the work in. Otherwise than that, no homework. Halfway through his work, the crumbled piece of paper found its way tossed back onto his desk.

Are you serious? Butterflies? Yugi, that sounds serious. Do you think that maybe you have a crush on him? I use to feel that way about Atemu to be honest. Bakura got it in my head that Atemu was my one and only prince. Isn't that silly? But in the end, my feelings died and I realized it was just because I admired him so. Maybe you just think you like him, and it's all just in your head. Because he helped you, maybe? I'd just be careful. Mariku might have mild down a bit since the transfer, but he's still a loose cannon. Think of who his best friend is.

Yugi read back the note and sighed. Maybe Ryou was right, and it was all just in his head. Though the thought mulled over his mind a bit, seeing Mariku defend him like that, much like a prince charming or knight would do for his damsel or princess, just made the butterflies grow more. It was cute trying to imagine the dark skinned teen dressed up. A smile crept up on Yugi's face, as he doodled aimlessly on his class work.

When the school bell rang, the pharaoh looked around, trying to spot Mariku. The spiky sand blonde hair was low, close to the table. Walking over he saw Mariku laying his head on the desk, eyes front but closed, chin resting on his arms. The loud chatter of the other students made Atemu wonder how anyone could fall asleep in class, let alone act like nothing was going on. "Mind if I sit down?" He said, pushing his glasses up slightly with his index finger.

A purple eye turned and eyed the pharaoh from the corner, and a light chuckle was heard. "Annoy me, and I'll kick you." Was the only response. Nodding, Atemu took the stool beside Mariku, sitting calmly, his elbows resting up, fingers idly playing with a long strand of hair. Soon the teacher was underway with the role call and paused when she heard Mariku's voice, almost choking on her bottle of water, spraying the first row of students. This only caused the smirk on the dark face to widen.

After things were settled down, the teacher, Juiza-sensei, asked the students to gather their textbooks from the back shelf and to turn to the page for the day.

Jou looked at his friend and pondered what was going on, but didn't press the issue, only sat at his table idling drawing on a scrap piece of paper of Mariku's head exploding, a chuckle escaping his lips time to time.

Mariku reluctantly got his book and turned to the assigned page, not sure if he should pay attention or not. But there was something on the edge of his thoughts that tickled his brain. Sitting up on the stool as best as he could, without falling over, the Egyptian teen yawned, eyeing Atemu from the corner of his eye. To be honest, he barely noticed when the pharaoh first spoke to him, the slightly deep voice faintly falling on his ears. It wasn't until his brain finally computed that someone was speaking to him that Mariku responded.

With the book open on the table, purple eyes carefully looked over Atemu, taking in the sight before him. Black glasses framed a thin pale face that seemed innocent and full of wisdom all at once. The clothing he wore was the standard uniform for the school, but for some reason it seemed different when the pharaoh wore it. Almost like the jacket was a cape that royalty wore. Then it came to Mariku. Atemu just screamed arrogance with every twitch of his body. The aloft coldness that floated over his body, if he knew it or not; it was sickening. How he had to act like he knew everything, even when he didn't. The way he spoke. Everything was annoying and it only fueled the dislike Mariku had for him.

Then it came to Yugi. The boy was small, gentle, eager to please, warm hearted, and the friendliest person he's met. It was hard trying to imagine Yugi ruling a small country, let allow conducting a group study with ease. A total angel if you compared him to the Egyptian. Thinking back on the smile on Yugi's face as he ruffled the boy's hair, it almost cracked a smile on tanned skin. Almost. What was that? He thought. Shaking himself mentally he tried to focus his thoughts back on the textbook, turning his gaze from the pharaoh to the book. "They look nothing alike if you really think about it," he muttered to himself, his finger playing with the edge of the page, almost like he was nervous.

They physically looked similar but everything else was different. Though Atemu now wore glasses, sometimes people still confused the two. How? One was taller, the other always getting picked on, regardless of the popularity status of his 'brother'. Mariku cleared his throat, trying to shake his thoughts from Yugi. They were leading him down a path he didn't want to go down. Not yet. Gah, stop it. I'm going to stab myself in the head to get me to stop thinking about him. He's just a brat, and the pharaoh's brother. You couldn't touch him even if you wanted to. Sure you could. You just go over and –

"Ack!" Mariku said, falling backwards and off of the stool. Hitting the floor, the stool landed on his legs, causing the teen to glare at it, as if he could melt it with the heat vision he didn't have. The voice of the teacher stopped, a frustrated sigh escaping her lips.

"Ishtar-san, if you please. Falling off of your seat will not give you a pass to the clinic, despite how many times you try hurting yourself." With no concern over her student, the teacher continued on with her teachings, acting as though nothing happened.

Sitting up, Mariku looked over at Jou who was two seats behind him laughing hysterically, trying to send the best death glares he could in the blonde's direction, but from the position he was on the floor, it had no effect.

Atemu eyed the Egyptian from the corner of his eyes, turning to face him to see if you needed help. "Are you alright?" He asked, eyeing the boy up and down as to find what caused him to fall over.

"I'm fine." Was all he got, as the teen dusted off his pants and seated himself back on the stool. A few moments passed before the pharaoh spoke again. "Mariku, I have something I need to speak to you about."

"Whatever it is, can't it wait? I'm due for my nap." Mariku muttered while mentally correcting his inner self for causing him to fall over.

Without hesitating, Atemu took out the $20 and laid it on top of Mariku's textbook the words said without saying them. But all he got in response was a chuckle. "You expect me to give you a blowjob for $20? You're cheap, Pharaoh. I'm sure little Yugi could give you one for free if you just asked."

Ignoring the comment, the older brother of the two sighed in frustration. "Yugi asked me to give that to you."

"Oh so it's him that wants a blowjob from me. Well he's just as cheap as you are." A smirk stretched over his tanned face, chuckles falling on Atemu's ears.

"Dammit, Mariku isn't there a thought in your mind that isn't sexually motivated?"

A pause. "Nope." Though that was a lie. Truth be told, Yugi was beginning to creep back into Mariku's thoughts, and the idea of giving Yugi a blowjob caused some butterflies to flutter about, among other sensations.

"Be that as it may, Yugi wished to give you this as a gift I'm assuming; to thank you for helping him earlier. Personally I see no reason why he would waste his time giving this to you. You're nothing but a selfish man who mistreats his Hikari." Atemu looked at Mariku, almost glaring. If looks could kill, Mariku would be on the edge of death.

"You flatter me, Pharaoh, but I don't want the chibi's money. And what I do to my 'brother' is none of your business. I could only imagine the things you wish you could do with yours. A little bit of rope or tape? Perhaps handcuffs?" Mariku smirked taking the money and shoving it in his pocket. "I'll give it to the brat myself."

Silence and tension rose between the pair and before they knew it, it was time for lunch. The bell rang, releasing the students from class and into the hallways. Atemu got up first and looked at Mariku. "If I find out you laid a hand on him, I'll hunt you down and make you wish you didn't."

"Depends on what kind of hand I lay on him; across his face or down on his ass? I bet his ass is nice and soft too. More cushion for the pushin, am I right, Pharaoh?" Mariku smirked as he stood, leaning against the table as Jou walked over, obviously hearing the last part of the conversation. But the Egyptian didn't get the verbal and physical bashing he was aiming for from Atemu. Instead he got a death glare and the mutt and his friend walked out of class along with everyone else.

As the pair walked off, Mariku took the money out of his pocket and eyed it in his hands, wondering what he should do. It wasn't like he couldn't use the money. So why did he have such a hard time taking it? What was his problem in taking the chibi's money? And what was with the thought of giving Yugi a blowjob? He couldn't do that. Maybe his inner self was right. He couldn't touch Yugi even if he wanted to. There was just too big of a barrier that was called his friends. The only one out of his little group that didn't hate him was Ryou, but then again he wasn't really a huge part of Yugi's group.

Shrugging his shoulders, he pocketed the money again and headed out the door, taking his history book with him. First to his rarely used locker, then to the cafeteria to give Yugi his money back. He wasn't looking forward to seeing a smile on the boy's face as he went to see him. Not at all. Who would want to see a cute boy smiling at you anyway?

Mariku-san: Here is chapter 3. I'm not rushing the editing process. I want this to be of good quality. Well enjoy. This is a joint effort between DarkHikariTwilight and myself with a LOT of editing. Here's hoping that I get more chapters done without delay.