yes! There is only a few days left until Christmas! I'm so happy!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 6

Ryou awoke the next morning knowing that something was wrong. He felt more relaxed than he usually did. His bed was also warmer than usual. There was something around his waist and he could feel something pressed against his back.

Ryou smiled slightly as he remembered offering to share his bed with Bakura. The boy rolled over so that he could face the thief, being careful not to disturb him. Bakura didn't seem to like the change in position and unconsciously tightened his hold on Ryou.

As Ryou was pulled in he was forced to place his hands on Bakura's shirt-covered chest to stop his face from crashing into the other's.

When he stopped he realized just how close his lips were to Bakura's. He looked down and also realized exactly where his hands had come to rest. However, he did not remove them for if Bakura pulled them closer again their faces would collide and Ryou was sure that that would be very painful.

Underneath his fingers Ryou could feel the powerful muscles that were covered by the fabric of Bakura's shirt. Ryou was sure that the only reason Bakura was wearing a shirt was because it was too cold to be without one. Personally, Ryou would have preferred it if Bakura had been shirtless.

As soon as Ryou realized what he had been thinking his cheeks began to glow and he jerked backwards, his hands moving from Bakura's chest. The only thing that hindered Ryou's escape was the arms around his waist. He was flung forwards and crashed into Bakura's face.

The thief woke up instantly and turned away with a howl of pain. Both males reached up to their noses – the first thing to impact and therefore hurt the most – wincing as they cradled them and checked for damage.

Bakura was the first to regain his composure. "What the hell happened?!" he asked angrily, sitting up to stare down at Ryou.

Ryou didn't answer, just cradled his sore nose. Bakura growled in frustration but decided to let the subject drop. He couldn't be bothered to get into something so stupid after just waking up. The thief got up and went to the living room, leaving Ryou on his own.

When Ryou had gotten over the incident he got dressed and headed into the living room. He was just in time to see the date flash up on the news program Bakura had flicked onto.

Ryou gasped. "Oh no! It's the twenty third and I still haven't put up the Christmas decorations!"

Bakura frowned when he heard this statement. He turned around and asked, "What's Christmas?"

Malik arrived at Ryou's apartment later than he usually did. It hadn't been his fault though. Ishizu had been complaining that he wasn't spending enough time with his family during the holiday period.

Malik had then had to remind her that it wasn't fair on Ryou to have to handle Bakura on his own. And anyway this was the first time they'd ever heard about Christmas and Ishizu was spending most of her time studying old spell books in hopes of finding a time-travel spell so it wasn't like they were going to be spending any quality time together.

A jingling noise was made as Malik pressed the bell on Ryou's door. A crash followed the jingling along with a muffled, "Bakura be careful!"

Hurried footsteps became louder and louder until a ruffled looking Ryou opened the door. Malik raised an eyebrow and gave his friend a questioning look.

"Bakura fell off the stool while putting up the tinsel," Ryou replied to the unasked question.

Malik smiled and shook his head. Both boys then walked into the living room where Bakura was dusting himself off and muttering curses.

"I only just remembered that I needed to put up decorations and Bakura offered to help," Ryou explained.

"I see. And he considers falling on his ass helping?" Malik said cheekily.

Bakura growled at him. "Watch it blondie," he said dangerously.

"Blondie? How come you call Ryou 'pretty one' but all I get is 'blondie'?" Malik asked indignantly.

Ryou blushed and quickly went back to decorating the tree. Bakura scowled and turned away but (Malik noticed) there was a light red streak across the bridge of his nose. Malik smirked and made a mental note to talk to Bakura about that later.

Malik got his chance once all the decorations had been properly put up and he and Bakura were sitting in the living room while Ryou was making sandwiches in the kitchen.

"So, Bakura, what do you think of Ryou?"

Bakura shrugged. "He's a good kid, a gracious host, a kind friend." Bakura looked up and saw that Malik was smirking. It unnerved him slightly – it was like Malik knew something he didn't.

"He's just a friend?" Malik asked innocently.

Bakura's eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at?" he asked dangerously.

"Oh nothing," Malik replied, smiling cheerfully. "It's just people these days don't usually sleep in the same bed if they're 'just friends'."

Bakura blushed slightly and turned away from Malik. "I was cold," he said stubbornly.

"Aha," Malik said in a disbelieving tone, dragging out the last syllable.

Bakura growled and turned back to eye the blond angrily. "What exactly do you want me to say?" he snarled. "That he's pretty? Any idiot can see that! That I want to fuck him? I'm surprised there aren't people queuing up outside, waiting for him to even consider them as being worthy enough to enter his bedroom!"

"You'd be one of those queuing?" Malik asked, his face blank.

"Yes," Bakura replied, still glaring. "And before you say anything, no – I would not rape him if he turned me down. I wouldn't want to break him." Malik gave him a puzzled look and Bakura turned away, his face almost melancholy. "I've seen it before – girls and boys with stronger wills broken in one night. The pretty one is already fragile at times, almost as if he was pushed to the point of braking before. He wears a mask to hide his pain but I can see through it. I'd hate to be the one to break the mask of cheerfulness and calm he worked so hard to build."

Malik was beginning to see Bakura in a whole new light. He was aware that Ryou was sad and lonely on the inside, even if he did wear the mask of happiness to throw others off. Bakura actually seemed to care and understand Ryou in his own way. This was the first time Malik remembered Bakura even hinting that he cared for someone.

"Bakura…do you love Ryou?" Malik asked apprehensively.

Bakura scoffed. "Love? Love is just a word. I can't remember the last time that someone 'loved' me so how should I know what this thing is?"

Malik felt sorry for Bakura. He didn't know about the thief's past and didn't think now would be an appropriate time to ask. But how could someone live knowing that nobody loved them? That was probably the reason Bakura could become so angry and aggressive.

"Love is only a word but there are feelings linked to it. I guess the best way to work out if you love someone is if you can't imagine a future without them," Malik said reasonably.

Bakura thought about this for a bit. He could imagine a future without Ryou but it didn't seem like an all too happy one. If he was sent back to Egypt he would have to return to being the notorious King of Thieves, who's life revolved around staying alive and murdering the pharaoh.

If Bakura was stuck in the modern world then he'd need someone for a time to teach him about everything. But then what would he do? He had no purpose in this world since the pharaohs would be long dead by now. He didn't have any profession except thieving so he would most likely return to his life as the King of Thieves of the new millennia. It wasn't bad being a thief but it could get lonely when you never knew if you could trust someone or not so refused to get close to them.

A life without Ryou – someone Bakura knew deep down that he could trust – would not be a full life. He needed Ryou to give his life purpose. Even if his purpose was only to make Ryou smile for real then Bakura would be satisfied. He'd had enough of living on the edge, always wondering if death was right around the corner. The simple life that Ryou lived seemed oddly appealing to Bakura.

"Blond-err…Malik?" Bakura asked, hesitantly using Malik's first name. "How…In the modern world how exactly do you show that you…that you love someone?"

Malik was speechless – an astonishing accomplishment. Not only had Bakura called him by his real name (first time Bakura had not called someone by their nickname) but he had also said the word 'love' and seemed to be blushing and fidgeting!

When Malik had recovered his first words were, "So we're on first name turns now huh?"

Bakura glared at him. "No, I just couldn't think of an appropriate nickname. Now answer my question!"

"Well I guess you'll want to go along with the subtle hints plan so that Ryou comes out with it first so that you can whisk him off his feet into a passionate kiss?" A stiff nod. "I guess minor flirting would be acceptable. Sitting closer to Ryou would also work. I wouldn't recommend taking him out anywhere until your more familiar with Domino but you can get Ryou a really nice Christmas present and give it to him in two days."

Bakura looked fidgety again. There was one more question he needed to ask. "Do you think he'd get upset if I, you know, out my arm around him or held his hand or something?"

"Thinking of going for the lovey-dovey approach?" Malik stopped smirking when Bakura growled at him. "Ryou may freak out a little at first but as long as I'm here he should be fine."

Malik was about to give Bakura some more advice but he cut himself off when he saw Ryou heading their way.

"Sorry I took so long," Ryou apologized, "I couldn't find a new tub of butter." He set the plates on the table and looked at his two friends. "Did you find anything interesting to talk about?" he asked casually.

"Oh yes," Bakura said, smirking. Both Ryou and Malik turned to look at him. "Meddler just helped me think up his new nickname."

Ryou frowned slightly and looked at Malik. "Meddler?"

Malik grinned and said, "If the shoe fits…"

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