Well, this is fairly fast for me…..I usually don't get started on another chapter for a while. Too many ideas for this fic, I guess. And I don't have much else to do but write. Those are both good reasons.

Disclaimer: This is boring. WHY DO WE EVEN SAY THESE? All those lawyers must be really stupid if they think we all believe that we own these shows. Let's be straightforward: Don't own now. Probably never will. If I did, we wouldn't be able to watch the show on cartoon network. Got it, idiot attorneys? (Throws sticks at stupid lawyers who are chasing her)

Warning: If you haven't noticed already, and it was fairly obvious, THIS IS YAOI! IT'S NOT GOING AWAY! So all you people who think that's wrong or something, GO AWAY! You have had fair warning. Also, randomness will probably feature in at least some small role.

Hikari Flame: HIIIII! Thank you for the email! Always like to talk to people with interests like mine. Umm….let's see…first of all, you're the first reviewer for a new story, so…have a virtual plushie! So VERY useful, I'm sure. And well, I'm glad that SOMEONE feels bad for my fingers. Thanks for the review!

Siiarrei: I understand the whole running out of time idea! That gets annoying sometimes…now that this is up, you can just review for it instead of anonymously, I guess.

And here you go!

Chapter 2

"You should stay away from him."

Ryou sat frozen as his yami spoke. This was so confusing….he knew that Bakura was just trying to look out for him, that the spirit wanted him to be safe-but Malik didn't seem like he would ever even think about harming him.

"Ryou? You all right?" Bakura's tone was worried, just as the hikari would have expected-if he hadn't still been lost in his thoughts. He'd also begun to tremble slightly, although not noticeably.

Slowly Ryou returned to reality, but Bakura's words still didn't really sink in. He stood up with a comparatively blank expression, but there was a tinge of sadness if you looked closely.

"I'm rather tired, Bakura. I'm going to go to sleep."

The thief king could tell how upset his light was, no matter how hard Ryou tried to hide it. But he also could tell that now was not the time to talk about it. "All right. See you tomorrow."

The house was quiet as all light shut off. Bakura didn't go to bed though. He had an old acquaintance to talk to-mainly about this particular colleague's treatment of his hikari…..

Bakura walked through the city, hoping that his light's few memories of walking home from Malik's home would be able to lead him to the same location. Suddenly, the ring began to pull, and one of its arrows pointed towards a nearby apartment building.

"Excellent….Malik still has the rod. Finding his apartment should be no problem, none at all…"

He entered the building, and let the ring guide him to the right apartment. Bakura's knock was sharp and loud, just the opposite of what Ryou would have done. Well, he wasn't Ryou.

A few seconds later, Malik answered the door, the expression on his face immediately changing to one of surprise, then into a carefully guarded expression which gave away nothing.

"Bakura. What a surprise."

"Is it now?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, let's see….hmm-maybe something to do with Ryou? My hikari?"

Immediately Malik's expression became even more blank, if that were even possible. "And?"

"And I want to know WHAT THE FUCK YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE DOING!"

The blank expression was slowly replaced by one of comprehension, as it took Malik a while to figure out exactly what the thief king meant.

"Why don't you come in, Bakura? The whole building doesn't need to know about our personal lives."

Bakura shoved past Malik as he entered the apartment. He immediately wheeled around and opened his mouth to begin shouting at Malik. However, somehow the Egyptian managed to get in a full sentence before the spirit began ranting at him.

"At least give me a chance to explain." Eight words were the most that Malik could possibly have managed, and he still had to speak extremely quickly.

Bakura paused before saying, "You have five minutes."

Quickly, Malik began to explain. "I went for a walk. Ryou was being chased by some bullies. He tripped and fell. I went and helped him out. WE came back here and watched a movie. He got scared at one point and grabbed my arm, but he got over that fairly quickly. Once it was over, we noticed that it had gotten late. He got his coat and prepared to leave. He said he'd be fine walking home alone. On the way out, I-I-"

"You kissed him." Bakura stated it flatly, showing that it wasn't disputable. That idea was further strengthened by Malik's blush.

"I couldn't resist. Bakura….I think I've had a crush on him ever since that first time-remember, back in battle city? When you went back into the ring. He was barely conscious, I think, because I don't think he remembers it. Anyways….I resist, I guess. I would never hurt him, though."

"Yeah. Like you never even suggested harming him in Battle City." (1)

"Most of Battle City was at least partially controlled by my yami. I can't send thoughts unless he's in control, which he wasn't at the time."

Bakura didn't look convinced.

The Egyptian was growing slightly desperate now. "Look, Bakura, I would never do anything that I thought might harm Ryou. Never. I….I think I love him." As he said these last five words, Malik's voice grew quiet, so that the tomb robber had to strain to hear him.

Bakura did hear though. And although he kenw that Malik was an accomplished liar, something told him that this was the truth.

"I can't keep Ryou from doing what he wants, Malik, but you know I don't trust you. If you harm him in any way…." Bakura's meaning was obvious, even if he never said precisely what he would do to Malik.

The next morning, Ryou woke up late. That was to be expected, considering what time he had gone to bed. He went downstairs into the kitchen, not seeing Bakura anywhere. That was strange….Bakura rarely overslept. In his past, oversleeping could have meant death, and the habit of sleeping very little at all had carried over to present day.

On the counter was a note. Well. That would probably explain the thief king's mysterious absence. Ryou picked up the note and quickly read it.

Ryou

I'll be gone for most of the day at least. May be back late. What I said last night still stands, but I'm not going to force you to do anything. See you later.

Bakura

Reading the last few sentences of Bakura's note caused their conversation last night to finally sink in. Ryou suddenly found he wasn't in the mood for breakfast. In fact, he was almost in tears. He walked into the living room and lay down on the sofa.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Ryou glanced up but decided against answering it. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now…

It rang again. Whoever it was wasn't going away. 'Maybe I should just answer it….or maybe they'll assume that no one's home.

It rang for a third time. Ryou finally got up to answer the door, trying to come up with excuses for not answering the first or second time. He opened the door and gasped with surprise.

"M-Malik?"

The other teen shuffled uncomfortably. "Hey, Ryou."

A brief but uncomfortable silence reigned before Ryou asked, "Would you like to come in?"

Malik nodded slightly and Ryou stepped aside to allow him into the house. "Listen, Ryou, I need to talk to you."

Ryou sat down and motioned for the Egyptian to do the same. "Yes. We do need to talk." His voice was not cold or commanding, but gentle and calm. However, Malik could detect a hint of sadness hidden deep within the words. Maybe even a little bit of something else-regret? No…what was that emotion?

Suddenly, Malik noticed that Ryou was trembling slightly, as if he was trying to hold back tears. He wrapped his arm around the hikari, and felt the teenager lean back against him.

"Ryou, what's wrong? Please….tell me."

The silence that followed was interrupted only by Ryou's soft sobs as he buried his face in the other teen's shoulder. Malik wrapped both arms around his crush, knowing that he wouldn't move until Ryou calmed down. Which did eventually happen. Malik still didn't move, and Ryou gave no signs of wanting the older teen to leave. They sat like that for a while, both enjoying the feeling of being so close to the other.

Eventually Malik pulled away so that he could look into his love's eyes. "Ryou? Can you tell me what's wrong? Does-does it have to do with last night?"

Ryou averted his eyes. After a few seconds, he replied, "Yes, I suppose it does." His voice was quiet, even more so than usual.

Malik raised his hand to the younger boy's chin, gently forcing a pair of beautiful chocolate eyes to look into his own violet ones. He asked in a low voice, "Did you mind

-you know…"

Ryou looked away once again, his pure white hair falling over his eyes. "It depends."

That startled the Egyptian. He hadn't expected that answer, just a simple yes or no. Ryou began to talk again, though, snapping Malik out of his thoughts.

"Did you mean it?"

"Huh?" Malik was confused now.

Ryou looked up at him willingly for the first time, but the look in his troubled eyes disturbed the older teen. "Did you mean what you did? We both know what kisses symbolize."

'Oh, that's what he meant…' Malik thought. He brought his hand up to Ryou's face again. "Of course I meant it. Why would I have done that otherwise?"

Ryou's eyes softened, and he placed his own hand over Malik's. "Then….no, I can't say that I minded one bit."

Malik smiled as he looked into the younger boy's face. "Then I guess you wouldn't mind if I did it again?" Ryou simply smiled in reply and wrapped his arma around Malik's neck.

Their lips met gently at first, but it quickly evolved into a passionate kiss. Slowly, Malik ran his tongue along his love's bottom lip, feeling a shiver of pleasure run down the younger teen's back. Ryou opened his mouth obligingly, and Malik slipped his tongue inside instantly, memorizing every inch of the pale angel's mouth.

It was a minute or two before they began to worry about breathing. When that happened, they broke off from the kiss as Ryou snuggled into Malik's chest.

All right, that ends the second chapter! Bakura's worries seem to be misplaced….but how can Malik gain his trust? It's pretty clear that Ryou's ideas don't really matter all that much here-Malik must prove himself. Hmmmm…I wonder how he'll do that….hehehe….must resist being evil…..

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