Ryou squirmed uncomfortably as Yugi shifted his weight against him. The close contact made by his friend was something he wasn't very used to receiving. Turning his face into Yugi's hair, he took a deep breath. Hoping Yugi didn't notice, he lay his own head on top of his friend's and smiled. It felt good to be this close to someone.
----------
Bakura heaved himself up off the floor and headed towards the bathroom. He staggered a little, and Yami started forward, but Bakura had already caught himself on the doorframe and closed the door behind him.
"I'm going to take a shower, Yami. Don't be here when I'm done!" Bakura yelled through the door. Yami sighed roughly and walked through to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator door and was surprised to see it was empty. 'Great. Wonder why that is.'
Yami knew Ryou's father stayed away most of the time, at his job or whatever. Yugi had looked so sad when he was telling Yami about it. Coupled with Bakura, Yami didn't see how Ryou stood it. 'I guess that's why the guy jumps whenever Yugi asks if he wants to go out.'
Yami shrugged, looking around the small kitchen. He wanted to do something to help, but didn't know what. 'I guess the only thing I can do is get Bakura to tell me what's going on.'
----------
Yugi had moved almost into his lap in his sleep. Ryou wanted to wake him up suddenly and spill everything to his friend. He knew what was wrong with his dark.
----------
"I thought I told you to leave." Bakura hissed when he came into the kitchen about ten minutes later. Yami smirked from his place where he was sitting on the counter.
"You say a lot of things." He said quietly. Bakura practically snarled, throwing his still wet hair over a shoulder. He cursed under his breath as he walked back into the bedroom. Yami followed him. "Bakura..."
"I'm not explaining something to you that is none of your business!" Bakura spat. Yami could see why Ryou asked Yami to handle this. He could only imagine Ryou cringing from Bakura's voice. The image infuriated Yami. "You know what? You left him alone with Yugi didn't you?" He sneered. "Better run home, there Yami. He's probably raping your little fuck toy as we speak."
Before he knew what he was doing, he was flying at Bakura, fist raised. His fist connected with Bakura's jaw with a satisfying smack. Bakura crumpled and Yami jumped on him, punching him again when he started to get up. Pinning one wrist with a knee, he twisted his other arm tight against his back, hard enough to cause Bakura to cry out.
"Damn! You're fast." Bakura rasped.
"Do not, ever, say something like that about Yugi-or Ryou-ever, again."
Bakura tried to chuckle, but it came out as more of a moan. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Now let me up." Yami smiled. He didn't move.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!"
"No way. I have you right where I want you. Tell me what is up with you. By your last little comment, I'm sure it has something to do with me or Yugi, doesn't it?" Bakura looked almost sick.
"Yami."
"Bakura."
----------
Ryou couldn't help himself.
Yugi had let Ryou lay him down on the blanket they were sitting on. He couldn't help but stare at him. His hair was in his face. He was resting his head in the crook of his arm. On his side, in this position, his body was almost as curvy as a girl's. Ryou felt his heart quicken, his breath caught in his throat. His fingers brushed Yugi's hair back, and he froze when he moved toward the touch.
Feeling like he was in a dream he had been having, Ryou leaned down and very gently kissed Yugi's jaw, then the corner of his mouth, and finally his lips. He was so soft and gave in to Ryou so readily. He had never kissed anyone like this before, Bakura's kisses were always so hard and demanding. Some little voice in his head screamed this was wrong, but he couldn't help himself.
Yugi moaned a little, his eyes opened to slits. Ryou watched realization dawn in Yugi's eyes, and Ryou started to pull away. Yugi grabbed the back of Ryou's neck and pulled him back down.
----------
Yami put more pressure on Bakura's arm, causing him to cry out again. "Yami!" He was almost on the verge of tears. Yami couldn't really say why he was doing this, but something was extremely satisfying about the way he was struggling, and loosing his composture by the second. "Yami?"
"Well?"
"It's you!" Bakura suddenly lashed out. "You and Yugi! You stole him from me!" To Yami's shock and amazement, a tear fell out of the corner of his eye. Yami was so surprized, he let Bakura go. He rolled over and away from Yami, but didn't try to get up.
"What are you talking about?" Yami asked, confused. Bakura didn't reply for a long time, he just gripped his shoulder. Yami sat with his mouth hanging open. Did he mean what he thought? Finally, he sat up, still with his back to Yami.
"Damn weed, makes me all weepy." He mumbled, wiping his eyes and nose. "Do I really have to explain it?" His voice was thick, like the had been crying. "He likes you. More than a friend. Yugi too. Can't you tell?" He said miserably.
"Surely-" Bakura whirled around.
"I know my own hikari, Yami! And, I know when I'm not wanted. He doesn't love me anymore."
Yami scowled as he said, "Well, you aren't exactly too wonderful to him, now are you?"
"Who the hell are you to say that to me? Do you think I need you to tell me that?" Yami shook his head.
"I don't know." Bakura sniffed.
"You don't believe me, do you? Seriously, Yami, just ask him." Bakura stood, straightening his shirt. "Tell him I'll be gone tonight." He paused at the door. "And if he is really that worried about me, come and talk to me himself next time." Then he walked out.
----------
"I'm sorry Yugi, I don't know what-" Ryou stammered while Yugi shook his head.
"No, it is my fault just as much. I should be apologizing too."
"But, I started it..."
"I didn't exactly say no." Yugi grinned at his blushing friend. They were still sitting in his living room. Yugi reached up, and brushed Ryou's hair back.
"But, didn't you and Yami just get back together?" Then he blushed. "I mean, I wasn't saying that we should get together or anything...I mean, uh..." Yugi giggled.
"It's okay. You don't have to say anything." Ryou looked like he was going to cry. "Ryou, it's okay."
"Should we just forget about it?" He said. Yugi looked him in the eye.
"Do you want to just forget it?" He asked solemnly. Ryou blushed. He wasn't sure what to say. "Let me talk to Yami."
"No! I don't want to cause any problems between you two."
"You won't. We tell each other everything."
"Please, I'd rather not..." Yugi shook his head. His mouth was open to say something else when they heard the door slam and Yami walked in.
"Hey, did he tell you?" Yugi asked as Yami came through to the living room. He looked tired. Nodding he said, "Ryou, can I talk to you?"
Ryou's blush deepened. "Sure." He couldn't not hear what Yami had to say now that he knew. Ryou just hoped it wasn't too much.
----------
Yami wasn't sure how to start. He took a seat in the chair that Yugi and Ryou sat facing on the floor. Feeling timid and awkward he said, "Do you have any idea what could be up with your dark? Because I don't really know how to say this."
Not letting him off the hook that easily, Ryou shook his head. "Well," Yami began again. "I'm just going to come out and say it very bluntly. He thinks you are in love with me, or Yugi, or both of us, and is kind of depressed about it."
Yugi raised an eyebrow and Yami caught the quick look they shared. Confused, he sat back and waited for one of them to speak. Something was up.
"Yami, we need to talk." Yugi finally said softly. Ryou looked completely ashamed and embarrassed about something. The whole thing sent stabs of dread through Yami.
'Oh, no. There it is. So he really was lying before.'
"It's true." Ryou whispered before Yugi could go on.
"What?" Yami couldn't help but say. He was expecting Yugi to take back everything that he said just the night before. He never even thought about what Bakura had said to be true.
"I'm sorry! I have to go. Thank you Yami for talking to Bakura for me." Ryou stood and walked very quickly to the door.
"Ryou!" Yugi called after him, but he either didn't hear or ignored him and was gone. Yami was stunned. Turning to Yugi, he was surprised to see tears in his eyes.
"Yugi? What is going on?"
"I don't know." Was the reply. "I don't know."
Paladin: Well, I guess there will be a part three as well. Hmmm...
