Wow! This is amazing. I posted the last chapter at maybe 10:30 Friday night, and by 8 PM on Saturday I already have 3 reviews! I feel so loved. Arigato gozaimasu, everyone! And, total, there were 39 hits! Hey, even if people didn't leave a review (though I love reviews and would really like it if everyone told me what they thought…), if they're reading the 5th chapter still then I'm doing good. You people make me so happy! I will update as quickly as I can—meaning as soon as I have enough to be worth updating. Oh, and I am learning that it's really hard to work on a story after reading fanfics….ah well. I'll just have to learn to write FIRST.

Disclaimer: See previous chapters please…I don't want to waste creativity on it. I don't have enough stored up to use on this and write the chapter…

Warnings: heh…well, still shounen ai…um….possible drinking, limes, language, etc.; I haven't decided everything yet.

Oh, I also realize that Malik and Ryou seem to have a pretty innocent relationship….hmm. Wondering if I should do something about that or let it be for now….in any case, this chapter starts at around 4 on Saturday—sound familiar, anyone?

Translations will go: Japanese (English)

Oh, and many thanks to Chi-chan, Dani, and everyone else who helped me with ideas for truth or dare! Much of this chapter would have been far worse off without their help.

Chapter 6

"Malik, come on! We're going to be late!" Ryou called, walking into his boyfriend's apartment. It was already only a few minutes to four, and although the roads weren't especially crowded at this time, it would still take a while to get across town.

The Egyptian poked his head out of the kitchen. "I'm coming, I'm coming….just finding something." Noticing Ryou's suspicious look, he added, "I'm just looking for some soda!" He quickly stuffed some beer into a bag, along with several bottles of soda. "Coming!" He walked out, Ryou next to him.

"Finally!" the hikari smiled, elbowing his boyfriend gently. "We're really going to be late now, you know…it's quite a long walk to Seto's."

Malik smirked. "Who said we're walking?" Ryou glanced up at him, confused. However, the confusion disappeared as the tan teen led him into a parking garage and a shiny red motorcycle.

This was bad.

Motorcycles terrified him. In fact, so did cars, to some degree, ever since his mother and sister had died in one. But motorcycles were worse. There were no walls. Yes, motorcycles were definitely worse. He bit his lip, looking nervous. "Malik?"

The Egyptian turned around. "Yeah?"

"Are you trying to get us killed?"

"What?" Malik asked incredulously. "It's a motorcycle, not some kind of guillotine!" Ryou still looked nervous. The tan teen walked over to him, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend. "It'll be all right. Trust me, all right? I've been driving this thing for over a year without a problem." He felt the hikari lean against him, nodding slightly. "Good! Hang on tight!"

As soon as the motorcycle started, Ryou yelped and wrapped his arms tightly around Malik's waist. Not that the Egyptian minded…he pulled out onto the road, careful to stay at least NEAR the speed limit. Even so, it only took a few minutes to arrive.

They walked in the door, hand in hand, to no one's surprise. Looking around, Ryou saw Yugi and Yami arguing over some remote game rule, Jou and Honda pigging out, and Mokuba trying to convince Seto to turn off his laptop for once. Smiling, he whispered to his boyfriend, "It seems that Mokuba managed to convince his nii-sama (big brother) to come anyways."

Surprised, the Egyptian glanced over at the boy. He grinned. "Ha! He really can convince Kaiba to do pretty much anything…"

Just then, Yugi noticed their arrival. "Hey Ryou, Malik!" he called, running over to them. He was already incredibly hyper.

Yami followed just behind him and whispered, "He's had sugar…"

Malik blinked. "That explains a lot." He blinked again. "Wait, who gave him that? Are they crazy?"

The others nodded silently.

()()(later) ()()

It was dark out by now, and Mokuba had been sent to bed. Seto had eventually turned off his laptop and started talking to people (A/N: amazing, no?), and so the party continued. However, since Jou was there and Mokuba was not, things quickly took a turn for the dirty side. Almost as soon as Mokuba was out of the room, Jou asked (A/N: not n enthusiastic enough word, but you get my drift) "Hey! Who wants ta play Truth or Dare?"

Seto snorted. "Mutt, middle school girls play that at sleepovers." The typical argument ensued, as the others completely ignored them and thought it over. Yugi was one of the first to agree, which of course caused Yami to do so as well. Well, they were yami and hikari—it made sense, in a way. Malik, however, had no idea what the game was, or what the others were talking about.

"It's not too hard to understand." Ryou explained. "One person starts. They ask another person if they want a truth—a question you have to answer honestly—or a dare—something you have to do. Then they give the person whichever one they wanted. And then the person who had to choose gets to ask."

Malik frowned. "So if Bakura, say, told me to rob a bank, I'd have to?"

"Well…..we may make an exception for something like that." The hikari answered, smiling slightly.

Just then, Yami asked, "Where is Bakura, anyways? I thought he'd show up, since there is alcohol and stuff."

Ryou frowned. "He said he didn't want to. No offense meant, but I think he's still avoiding you." Seeing the spirit's face fall, he added, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

The pharaoh looked up again. He smiled slightly, though his eyes were sad. "No, it's nothing." Staring up at him, Yugi could tell there was indeed something. (A/N: as all readers should be able to tell as well, at this point…and sorry about all the author notes!)

In any case, Jou ran out of not-so-snappy comebacks and decided to begin. "Hey, ummm….Honda! Truth or dare?"

Honda looked skeptical "I don't trust your dares, truth."

Jou frowned. "Damn." He looked thoughtful. "Umm…..let's see….damn, I can't think of good truths!" He gave up and asked the most predictable question possible: "What's your most embarrassing moment?"

If one didn't know better, one might have seen a slight blush spread across the teen's cheeks. "You should know!" Honda said. Seeing Jou's uncomprehending look, he continued, "You remember that time you walked in when I was watching that movie? The porn video?"

"OHHH! Yeah!" Jou burst out laughing. "The look on your face was hilarious…"

Honda, still looking slightly uncomfortable, cut in, saying, "All right, my turn. Umm….Ryou!" The hikari looked up. "Truth or dare?"

Ryou thought for a moment before answering "Truth."

"Umm…..did you and Malik do anything over break?"

Ryou's eyes widened slightly as he blushed. "We…hung out…went for walks and stuff…"

Honda rolled his eyes. "Nooo….anything interesting?"

Ryou's blush deepened. "…we kissed….but that's all." Honda looked almost disappointed. "Ummm…Seto?"

"Dare."

"I thought he said he didn't want to play, "Malik whispered.

Ryou answered, "He probably wants to do something to Jou." He thought for a minute before saying, "I'm terrible at these. Does anyone have a good idea?" Everyone sat silently. Suddenly Yami's face lit up, and he crawled over to whisper something in the pale teen's ear. Ryou's eyes widened, and he giggled slightly. "That would work. Jou, mix up some kind of drink, but don't use anything that people aren't supposed to drink." Jou looked excited; Seto appeared worried. "Seto, you have to drink whatever Jou comes up with." Seto glared at Yami fiercely while Jou practically ran into the kitchen, an evil grin spreading across his face.

A few minutes later (and after a number of worrying noises), Jou walked back out, carrying….a blender. "Couldn't find any smaller cups," he said, grinning cheerfully. "Here ya go!"

Seto took the blender hesitantly. He looked at the liquid suspiciously, then took a large gulp before almost dropping the container. "What the HELL is in that, mutt?"

Jou looked thoughtful before answering, "Oh, some milk, orange juice, lemons-"

"Whole LEMONS?" (A/N: I was thinking the fruit when I wrote that, but looking back…)

"Yep! And some beer, some whiskey…let's see…some of that weird purple stuff—don't worry, the label didn't say toxi-"

Yugi cut in, sounding slightly worried. "What DID it say, then?"

"Something in English. Couldn't read much of it. But it looked like some kinda juice…"

Seto shook his head, murmuring, "No wonder it tasted terrible, with all that stuff…" He spoke louder, so the others could hear him over Jou's continued listing. "My turn now. Jou?"

Honda frowned. "Wait, I thought you weren't allowed to pick the person who picked you."

"But Ryou's the one who actually gave him the dare." Yugi reminded him. "Jou just got to make the drink."

Jou glared at Seto before saying, "All right, then, I can handle whatever ya can come up with, moneybags! I pick dare." He grinned proudly.

Malik whispered, "I think he may be in slightly over his head…" Ryou nodded silently in agreement.

Seto smirked. "That's what I'd hoped you'd say, mutt." Jou growled. "Look, you even sound like a dog. In fact…" His smirk grew. "You act so much like a dog, why don't you go drink from the toilet?"

Jou's jaw dropped. He promptly glared at the CEO. "WHAT? Oh, come on, that's gotta be unhealthy or sumthin…."

Ryou spoke up. "He's right, he could get sick from that." Yugi hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"So it's settled! I don't have ta on account of possibly getting' sick!" Jou chirped. (Yes, chirped.)

Seto smirked. "Not yet. Not everyone's agreed."

Jou glanced at Honda, Yami, and Malik. Yami's eyes were blank; he seemed to be mentally talking to his hikari. That is, he seemed to be, until said hikari poked him, and he snapped back into the real world. "I agree with Yugi," he stated, before zoning out again. Ryou glanced over at the short teen, who shrugged, indicating that Yami wasn't talking to him.

Honda shrugged as the group looked towards him. "I'm with Jou on this one; that's just gross, Kaiba." The CEO proceeded to glared at the brown-haired teen fiercely, but somehow, he was ignored. "Hey, you still have to ask Malik, right?" Honda reminded them.

Immediately everyone's gazes turned to the Egyptian, who looked almost startled. "Wait…so if I say so, Jou doesn't have to do it?" The others nodded and he shrugged. "Fine, whatever." Jou jumped up, punching the air.

"Yeah!"

Seto didn't look quite so happy. "Fine then, I get to choose another. Umm…" His eyes lit up, and he smirked menacingly. "I dare you…to make out with Honda for at least a minute."

Jou stared blankly at the CEO before jumping up, yelling, "WHAT?"

This only earned him another smirk. "I'm not done yet." He took a moment to enjoy the angry glare of the blonde before announcing, "You both have to be shirtless."

Jou seemed furious by this point. He was also blushing profusely.

Strangely, Honda didn't seem nearly as upset.

In any case, Jou had begun to rant furiously at Seto once again; in a typical display if indifference, the brunet ignored him completely. However, this time people weren't so willing to let Jou off the hook. As Yugi so nicely put it, "Sorry, Jou, but you already got one break…besides, it's not like there are any big risks in just kissing someone."

Which, of course, caused Jou to retreat into a corner to mutter about something along the lines of "Traitor…plenty of harm…just not…evil, all of you…" Honda went over to him, dragged him back into the center of the room, and reminded him that he didn't have much of a choice about it, and that delaying would be rather pointless. The brown-haired teen seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

Honda pulled off his own shirt, reminding the blonde that the dare did indeed require him to do the same. He sat down after doing so, biting his lower lip nervously. Yeah, he was gay…but this was his best friend, not a boyfriend. The whole idea of making out with him was just weird. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of the brown-haired teen's lips against his own. 'Well, at least I can enjoy myself…' he thought, before his mind completely blanked.

He felt Honda's tongue press against his lips, and opened his mouth slightly. This was enough for his friend, who immediately took the chance to explore. Jou reveled in the feeling for a moment before beginning to fight back, slowly gaining, then losing, then regaining dominance. This continued until he heard Yugi announce that the minute was up. Yes, kissing was fun, but this was still Honda….there were limits.

He stood and walked back over to the sofa, smoothing his slightly rumpled clothing. Glaring at Seto, the teen sat on the ground, leaning against the armrest of said furniture. "So now I get ta pick someone." He thought for a moment. He looked around. He thought for another moment.

"Oh, for god's sake, mutt, hurry up!"

"Fine, fine! Yami." The blonde began glaring again, causing Seto to ignore him and everyone else to sweatdrop in defeat.

The ex-spirit glanced at Jou suspiciously, coming out of his little trance. "Truth."

"All right…what's been buggn' ya all day, then?"

The spirit looked up quickly, apparently surprised, before whispering, "It's nothing."

()()(Oooh, must decide whether I should leave a cliffie or not)()()

All right, I'm leaving a cliffie.

Yes, I know, I'm being evil. But it has been forever since I updated (Gomen nasai! Many apologies!) and…well, maybe people will review, if only to rant at me. -.-

Any guesses as to Yami's problem? Though people who read the prequel may be able to guess. At least, a little bit. There is foreshadowing….I think…but then, I'm also the one who knows what's going to happen, so maybe it's only noticeable in retrospect.

Ahhh! Must find more time to write. And develop a longer concentration span. (So many pointless little things to do on computers! I get distracted so easily…) I will do my best to update fairly soon….though at the moment, I have 3 or 4 ideas as to what the next chapter might be, and really have no idea what I'm going to type. I'll figure it out. Eventually.

I am also editing Thief's Brother pretty extensively, so whenever I have writer's block, don't worry—I'm not just staring at a blank screen for once! I'm actually going to be working on something still….this is completely irrelevant, but oh well.

Please read and review! Feed the authoress!