Here's the update as promised. We finally get a tinny little bit of action here. Another rather long chapter (longer than my usual at least).

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Chapter 7:

Hugs All Around

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Yami carefully put down the phone, a very thoughtful look on his face. He had been quite surprised to hear Seto's voice when he had picked it up. And his disbelief only grew once the other started to talk about this plan he had that would no somehow force Marik and Bakura to get along with their lights and put an effort on what they're doing in no time.

Yami had started spluttering when Seto revealed his part in this so-called plan. "W-what—are you…insane? How do you even know if this will work?"

"Why won't it?" Seto had replied calmly.

"You should know better than to take advantage of Bakura or Marik like this! If they find out—"

"They won't. And what's your problem? All you have to do is to get them all riled up and then just let their pride do the rest."

He frowned. Yes, it did sound simple enough. In fact, truth be told, Yami had a knack for stirring up competition at any given situation. He shouldn't have any problem handling Bakura and Marik. And it was for the 'greater good', or…for the good of the plan at least.

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Marik glanced suspiciously at Yami. There was that mischievous glint in the pharaoh's eyes, and for some strange reason, it was making him rather nervous.

They were currently walking towards Seto's mansion, all three lights and darks. Marik would've preferred driving there, but Yami (for some strange reason), insisted that they walk, saying that it would do them good as some kind of exercise. Normally, he would've opposed the other's decision, but since Malik was being awfully moody after what happened yesterday and refused to lend him his motorcycle (they have agreed on sharing until they could buy another one), he didn't really have a choice.

The six boys were walking into two slightly-divided groups. Malik was giving Marik and Bakura the cold shoulder; Marik for his teasing and Bakura for egging Marik on through his smart comments on their 'relationship' and such, and so resorted to having Yugi and Ryou as his company.

Yami, Marik, and Bakura fell down at the back and merely listened at their lights' conversations every now and then, not really attempting to start one amongst themselves. However, when Marik noticed Yami's lips curl into a small smirk, his curiosity got the better of him and he spoke, "Alright, pharaoh. What's going on in that twisted brain of yours?"

Bakura looked curiously at the other two as Yami blinked.

"What?"

Marik narrowed his eyes, "You have that damn proud look on your face. Care to share your thoughts with us?"

Yami hesitated for a moment. He'd actually been thinking of Seto's scheme for the other darks. He already had a plan on his head, he was just thinking of the perfect time as to when he'll be making his first move. Come to think of it…this just seems to be his chance.

"Well…" he started, choosing his words carefully; baiting Marik was as dangerous as wandering into a cage of bloodthirsty lions. You never know when they're going to 'pounce'. "I've just been recalling the past few days or so…he-he. And I've got to say; this is probably the best time I've had in my entire…spiritual life!"

Bakura decided to join in. "You enjoy acting gay?" he said in wonder.

"No, idiot," Yami succeeded in restraining himself from hitting the other boy, "I mean, it's just so amusing to see you two struggling to make all these gay stuff work," he forced a laugh to make his amusement seem genuine, "I guess Duel Monsters isn't the only thing I'm better at than you."

Marik arched an eyebrow. "What are you saying?"

Yami allowed himself a wicked smile, it seems that Marik's taking the bait, and by Bakura's slightly vexed expression, he is too. "I guess I'm just the best when it comes to acting. Heh, another one-up I have from you two. You're both horrible actors."

Bakura gave him a furious look, "Watch your mouth, pharaoh."

He smirked. Almost there…

"Oh, just admit it tomb robber," he said in a condescending tone, "If you've seen yourselves yesterday, by god, you'd probably be laughing your ass off. You look so lost as to what to do. Though I guess you're better than Marik."

Marik clenched his fists, "Care to repeat that?"

"Well, at least Bakura tries to do what Pegasus says," Yami said, "You on the other hand…"

"I can act better than Bakura, hell; I could act better than you. I only prefer to reserve my skills when I'm actually dealing with something worthwhile, as opposed to acting for the sake of oh-so-lovable Kaiba!"

Yami crossed his arms and grinned. They had now fully stopped walking, their lights however, oblivious to this little quarrel, continued on. Perfect. Seto had specifically said that it would be better if only the darks would be involved. Now Yami could fully take the situation into his hands.

"Hmph, spare me your excuses," he snorted, "Just say it. I'm better than you."

Bakura and Marik's faces were wearing identical murderous expressions. Both were trying their very best not to kill Yami on the spot, and were only barely succeeding.

Bakura breathed deeply "You're damn insane if you think that—"

"Care to prove it?" Yami interrupted. It was a subtle way of asking for a challenge, all three darks knew it. And Bakura and Marik were in no way even thinking about backing off. This was their chance to put that prideful pharaoh in his rightful place; beneath them…that sounded wrong.

"Alright, pharaoh," Marik finally said, "I'll bite."

"What exactly do you have in mind?" Bakura said.

Yami expelled his feeling of triumph through a sly smile. Now all he had to do was push Bakura and Marik into the direction Seto intended them to go. "Well…if you could somehow top Yugi and my own 'performance', and probably have Pegasus and Seto compliment you…"

"What? We're gonna have to submit ourselves through all those lovey-dovey crap you and your host are so fond of expressing to each other?" Bakura's lip curled into a disgusted grimace.

Preventing himself once more from smacking the tomb robber (since that would probably hazardous to his plan), he replied, "Well…can't say I'm surprised that you can't handle—"

"I CAN HANDLE PLENTY!"

"If that was so, then you won't have any problem acting that way now, won't you?"

Bakura fumed silently while Yami turned to Marik, "Well? What about you, Marik?"

Marik looked down at him, and in a confident voice said, "I can do anything you can—but better—no doubt about it."

Yami silently congratulated himself. Bakura and Marik were reacting to the challenge he posed as they had expected. He'd make sure to remember to collect his reward from Seto later.

"Hm, I'll be more convinced once you actually show me, instead of just saying that you can. Don't promise anything that you can't follow through."

"Trust me," Marik said lowly, "I fully intend to follow through my claim. If you can recall, Lightside has some potential with acting, seeing that he successfully fooled you gullible idiots into believing he was your friend at Battle City. So I won't be surprise if some of his 'talents' reflects on me."

Bakura scowled and then smirked, "Are you saying you and Malik are the same?"

"In some aspects, yes."

"So are you gay as well?"

Marik glared, "Lightside isn't gay, and I am definitely not as well. If anyone in this idiotic group of ours' sexuality is questionable, it should be your light."

Bakura snorted and waved Marik's barb off. "Oh please, Ryou's feminine, I admit, but he doesn't have gays running after him…unlike someone I know. If you ask me, there must be some specific reason as to why those stalkers of Malik's think he's interested in guys…care to enlighten me?"

"You know as well as me that that's one-sided, Bakura," he said indignantly. "Malik's a hundred percent straight and I know it."

"And yet you tease him otherwise," Yami gave his own input.

"As you said; it's teasing, nothing more," Marik turned to the pharaoh and gave him a sharp look.

Bakura snorted, getting tired of the conversation, "Let's just get going. The sooner we get to Kaiba, the sooner we can show off just how good we actually are," with that, he turned away and started walking briskly after the light's disappearing forms. He was actually a bit excited with this little 'game' them darks seemed to have started. And it was the perfect opportunity to just prove how much better he was than that damned pharaoh in so many aspects (Marik as well, he guessed). All Yami was good for were games…and strategies probably, but that was all, the pharaoh was pretty much average in everything else. The only reason he was doing better in their preparations was because he had a more harmonious relationship with his light than his own and Marik's.

He smirked, maybe just this once, he'd lower himself to be pleasant towards Ryou. His host was generally an adapting person, and if the other found out that he was willingly going to cooperate in making their 'relationship' work, things would be a piece of cake by then.

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"Yugi…your hair is in my face…"

Yugi laughed bashfully and moved his head slightly to the right, "Heh, sorry."

Yami patted him gently on the head with his free hand, "It's alright."

Pegasus was circling the two like a shark whilst Seto sat at his usual place at the sidelines, merely observing the two whilst he worked something out in his laptop. He was glancing at Marik and Bakura's direction every now and then, and was sure that Yami had been successful in carrying out the little task he had asked him to do yesterday. Both darks were paying rapt attention to Yugi and Yami, apparently sort of 'gathering information' for their turn later.

Seto grinned. They're going to need all the help they can get; Pegasus has planned their morning session for this day to be all about hugging. He had installed a digital camera on his computer just for this sure-to-be memorable event, no one would notice that he was conveniently taking pictures through his laptop now, would they?

The position Yami and Yugi were currently in wasn't that uncomfortable. Yugi had hugged his dark quite a number of times before so it really wasn't a big deal. But of course, Pegasus just had to make things harder for them.

"Hmm, very nice friendly hug. But that's the problem too; it's friendly. Remember, you two aren't friends, you're lovers," Pegasus said. He approached the two boys and took hold of Yami's wrist (the boy looked at him weirdly for a second) and pulled it so that his hand was positioned at the upper part of Yugi's back. "Your arms must be around here, below his arms, alright?"

Yami unsurely brought both his arms to wrap around his smaller light's back, "Eh…like this?"

"Yes, yes, very good," Pegasus then turned to Yugi. "Now as for you, Yugi-boy, since you're supposedly the submissive one in your relationship, your arms should wrap loosely just around Yami-boy's neck."

With a bit of trouble, Yugi managed to bring his arms around to encircle his dark's neck. It was a bit of a chore because of the one-head height difference, he had to stand a bit on his toes.

Seto took his very first picture, allowing himself a smirk as he did so. From the position the two were in, it looked like Yugi was just about to plant a smooch on Yami's face. Add the fact that Yami was slightly leaning forward (to make it easier for his light to bring his arms around him) and you could very well be convinced that they'd be kissing the next second. He wouldn't be worrying about owing Yami anything now, that is, if the pharaoh planned on keeping this certain picture of the internet. God knows what that would do to the Game King's reputation.

Pegasus took a few steps back to observe the picture they made and smiled, "Perfect as always, you two. My, even I can almost believe that you're actually together by the performance you've been gracing us with lately!"

The two boys weren't really sure as to what to make out from that compliment.

Bakura growled lowly, "'Perfect' my ass..." Though he had to admit that Yami and Yugi made a convincing picture. He ground his teeth in irritation. Damn it, the pharaoh obviously had an unfair advantage, Bakura thought, they probably do this hugging stuff all the time. His thoughts were interrupted by Pegasus.

"Bakura-boy, you're up next!"

Ryou was already standing up front waiting for him. With a determined look (noticed only by the darks and Seto), he walked forward and stood beside his light, looking up at Pegasus expectantly.

"Well?"

"Oh, eager today, aren't we?" the other laughed, "Very well then. Now, just hug the way you normally do and then we'll fix what needs to be fixed."

Ryou was a bit startled when Bakura encircled an arm around his back whilst the other took its place at the back of his head. Then ever-so-gently, Bakura pulled Ryou towards him and rested his chin on top of his light's head. The smaller boy blinked for a moment before finally regaining his senses and wrapping his own arms around Bakura. He had to admit, hugging his dark was strangely comfortable.

Meanwhile, Bakura was trying his best not to react to Marik and Malik's shocked looks. Malik's eyes were wide and unbelieving, why the hell was Bakura acting this way? Marik was just as surprised, but for an entirely different reason, he'd have to think of some way to top the tomb robber's performance. Yugi personally thought the two white-haired boys looked cute, while Yami maintained a neutral expression, slightly amused by Bakura's determination to prove he was better than himself.

Ryou's hair was quite soft, Bakura noticed, and he didn't smell that bad at all. Heh, trust his light to fret over his hygiene and stuff like that.

"Bakura, stop sniffing my hair."

Drats.

Seto was taking pictures with his laptop, still unnoticed by anyone.

"Well…" Pegasus said faintly, "This is definitely a large improvement from our previous sessions…"

Ryou, who had his head resting on Bakura's shoulder (where the other was holding it in place), looked up, "Eh…thank you?" not entirely sure why his dark was acting like this as well, but nonetheless glad that he didn't have to persuade the other for actually doing something for once.

"Why if this continues, I'd bet you'll even have Dream more convinced than Yugi-boy and his dark!"

Bakura smirked. Ha! He got Pegasus to compliment him, and the man also hinted that they were better than Yugi and the pharaoh! He's going to win this little contest of theirs for sure.

"Well done, well done!" Pegasus clapped jovially, "Now," he turned to face Marik and Malik, "Let's see if you two…err, have improved as well!"

Bakura removed his hand holding Ryou's head, but didn't remove the arm he had around his back, instead moving with the smaller boy gently towards their chairs. Ryou gazed up at him questioningly at this but decided not to ask questions when he heard Bakura say, "Heh, top that," to Marik and Yami as they passed by him.

Ryou sighed; of all the things to be competitive about.

Giving Bakura a look that clearly meant he was in no way letting him win, Marik stood up and walked forward. Malik blinked for a moment before following. What was that all about?

Behind his laptop, Seto looked at the Egyptians. Oh, now this is gonna be good. He could hardly wait what Marik's 'going to pull out of the hat', so to speak. Seto knew that all the darks have a very competitive side to them and would damn near do anything just to show how much better they than the other. And as far as he knew, Marik was probably the most unpredictable of the entire lot when it comes to these things.

Malik observed the expression on his dark's face. It looked like Marik was thinking really hard about something, and Malik felt that he was going to find out soon enough just what is going on through that demented head of his.

"Now…eh," Pegasus tread carefully, so far this certain pair always managed to end up in a disaster after their demonstrations. "Just…do what the others did, when you're ready."

There was a collective silence in the room as all stared at the two unmoving blondes.

Bakura was already opening his mouth to make a sharp comment when Marik made the first move.

The tanned dark held out his hand and gave Malik a very unnerving smile, "Well, Lightside?"

Malik raised an eyebrow but approached his dark all the same. "Hmph, now you want to cooperate?" he said skeptically.

Marik only gave a sly smile as he brought a muscular arm around his light.

"He probably feels like he needs a hug or something," and there came Bakura's traditional side-comments. Ryou was worried that Marik might react violently again and was preparing himself to pull Bakura out of the way incase the other dark lunged at them, and so was very surprised when Marik merely grinned at them before turning back to his light.

Malik blinked when his dark side positioned himself behind him. "Uh…what are you doing? How am I going to hug you from there," he started to turn around but Marik stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder.

Before Malik could voice his protest for this 'man-handling' he was shocked speechless when he felt Marik embrace him from behind. The arms eventually came to rest around his waist while Marik rested his head on one of his shoulders. Malik stood stiff as a board. He could feel Marik's skin against his own where his usual lavender shirt left his abdomen bare. And the fact that Marik was nuzzling the spot just under his ear with his nose was not helping matters. He could feel his face heating up in embarrassment. He could barely register Yami and Bakura's unbelieving expressions, Yugi and Ryou's blush, or Seto's smirking face

"Uh…M-Marik…w-what are you d-doing?" he managed to choke out.

"Hugging," was his simple reply.

"Eh…"

Seto was snapping pictures like mad. Hopefully, no one would notice his rapid pounding on the keyboard as he pressed the short-cut key for picture-taking, being to distracted by Marik and Malik's…display. This was priceless.

Pegasus didn't know what to say, "Oh my…this is certainly…a pleasant…change."

Having finished saving all the black-mail material he had collected for the day, Seto decided to comment himself, "I think what Pegasus has to say is; Excellent acting. Judging by your friend's expressions, they are rather impressed too," he waved a hand lazily towards the other lights and darks, who still hasn't made any movement since.

Marik smirked, particularly aiming it at Yami and Bakura. "What can I say, me and my Lightside are natural actors," he nuzzled Malik once more.

"Eh—Marik! Stop that!"

He chuckled a bit but heeded Malik's plea. When he noticed Yugi and Ryou's red faces, said, "No need to get jealous, acting has always been our field. Don't worry though, I'm sure Yami and Bakura would hug you like this when you ask them to. They're just uncomfortable with displaying affection in front of other people. Hopefully, they wouldn't chicken out once we're with Dream because of their disabilities."

This seemed to bring Yami and Bakura back to their senses. And upon seeing Marik's triumphant smirk, thought the same thing; this has just turned personal.

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I'm sorry if there wasn't much humor apparent in this chapter. I guess I focused too much on the (not really but kinda) 'romance' parts and basically let it take over from then on.

Don't worry though, the next chapter's going to have more laughs than this one (I hope). I already have a few crazy ideas running around my mind. I just need them to settle down so I can pick em' apart.

Feeling rather stressed right now (stupid school) so I'll probably post another chappy for UIT (Unmentionable Inner Thoughts), my brand-new stress-reliever-fic (it's strangely helpful).

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.