Ch.4

Yami stood, frozen, as the huge boy advanced on him. Bakura watched in horror as Ushio pulled his arm back at the elbow, balling up a meaty fist. But, as the bully swung his hand forward in a haymaker that would've hurt a steel wall, he hit air. Yami had dodged, efficiently twisting his body to the left, towards the punch, yet angled away from it. Ushio looked bewildered as the force of his own punch sent him stumbling forward.

Yami felt rage as he twisted again and again, the cry of, "Fight, fight, fight!!!" was rending the air. Finally, after he was cornered against the cold, stonewall of the gym, he paused. His eyes were wild, and as Ushio smirked and pulled his fist back for a dreadful blow. Yami's eyes scanned Ushio's face as the fist flew towards him. He cringed, waiting for the blow, then, he listened for a fraction of a second to the whistle of the fist through the air, allowing himself to feel the tension of the air before he slid down the wall and out from under Ushio. He rose, listening to the bully's fist break against the wall, causing a roar of pain to ring from Ushio's throat. Ushio turned his head from side to side, looking for where his prey could've gone.

Before Ushio could spot Yami, coach Riau was there, screaming at Ushio, who was escorted to the office by one of his buddies. Yami was not reprimanded, for he had not "been at fault."

Bakura turned to Malik and Marik, who looked back. They were all amazed at Yami's speed and agility. The bell rang, and everyone poured into the locker room again, chattering about the exciting class.

It was lunchtime before Bakura saw Yami. He watched the graceful stride and elegant pace the other possessed. It was like a dance.

Marik turned to him, "Hey, you want to ask Yami if he wants to sit with us? Or should we let Anzu get there first?" Bakura snapped to attention as the brunette girl sidled past, her eyes locked on the wonderful being whom was gathering a small amount of food.

Anzu made it to Yami before Bakura could, and Bakura glared at her as her annoying drawl of a voice carried in his direction. She said, "Hello, you must be Yami. Do you want to sit with me and the girls?" She pointed to a table full of females, who all waved and in a perfect unanimous monotone, chimed, "Hi!"

But what Yami said in response surprised him. First, Yami looked into Bakura's eyes, then, completely ignoring Anzu's offer, cried, "Ah, Bakura, do you mind if I join you? I seem to be unable to find a sincere friendly face!'

Bakura almost chortled with glee at Anzu's facial expression. But, keeping a calm façade, he waved Yami over, smirking over the smaller boy's shoulder at Anzu, who "hmph'd" and turned on her heel and stalked to her table, face red.

Bakura walked to his, Malik's, and Marik's table, with Yami at his side. The lovers smirked and greeted Yami with enthusiastic, "'Hellos'" Yami gave them a shy smile, which made Bakura feel strangely protective. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the tingling sensation.

Yami spoke to Malik, who was smiling and laughing as they talked about Egypt. Yami still had that shy look on his face, and Bakura blushed when it was directed at him when he smacked Marik on the head for making "ass-kissing" motions at Malik for saying that he loved Cairo's library, in which Yami's parents apparently worked.

Yami wasn't very talkative compared to Malik, who was chattering excitedly about his and Marik's wedding day. Marik was grinning from ear to ear as he and Malik shared a brief kiss. Yami did not say a word, just looked away from the private moment.

Today was an early out due to exams, just like the whole week would be. Bakura and Yami were again walking in silence.

Finally, Yami said something, "So… Malik and Marik seem pretty nice." Bakura coughed, trying to hide his laugh, "Yeah, until you see tongue when they get all mushy."

Yami chuckled, "Oh, and thank you for saving me from that annoying brunette…"

Bakura did not bother to hide his laughter this time, "Anzu's… Pushy."

Yami just shook his head, then, "So… Why were you staring at me in the locker room."

At this, Bakura felt a small thrill of embarrassment, "Why did you look so angry?" he replied, avoiding answer.

Yami smirked, "Look, Bakura, I don't like you, you don't like me, but, I don't think we should be so secretive if we share the same room. Especially if I sleep in a bunk bed, on the bottom bunk, with you so close."

Bakura opened his mouth, but Yami continued, "First off, I think you are egotistical, annoying, and strange. Second, you are pretty absurd with your "rules" policy. And third, you are an idiot for thinking that I will obey you when Ryou and Yuugi own the place."

Then, he sped up, leaving Bakura behind looking flabbergasted. Bakura opened and closed his mouth, fish like in his facial expression. He shook his head and followed the angry Egyptian boy, who was apparently a block or so ahead of him.

Yami felt the presence of Ushio more than he saw it, and he ducked instinctively. It was a lucky move, for Ushio's huge fist nearly crumbled the brick wall his head had been against no more than a moment ago.

Bakura saw it happen, Ushio attacking Yami, and raced forward. With an angry cry, he leapt and landed on Ushio's back, arms tightly around the bully's neck, strangling the large boy.

But Ushio was smart, he slammed his backside against the wall, and Bakura's skull was knocked up against the brick with a loud cracking noise. Bakura felt the skin of his scalp slit open by the wall's rough texture, and he dropped to the ground with a groan of pain. Everything went black.

Yami took his chance as Ushio turned and bent over Bakura. He did not run from the scene, but instead he took his foot and planted it on the small of Ushio's broad back, knocking him to the ground, pelvis first. Ushio gave a yelp, and rolled over, trying to protect his face with his grimy hands. But in one of Yami's hands, a knife materialized, and Ushio screamed.

Yami ran the blade the full length of his would-be attacker's cheek, drawing blood. He smirked as the bully's eyes rolled back and the gargantuan boy fainted. He finished his quick slashing of the boy's cheek, and turned to the unconscious Bakura.

He picked up Bakura bridal-style, supporting the larger boy with only his arms as if the boy weighed only a few pounds.

When he rang the doorbell with the toe of his boot, he heard Bakura groan on his arms, and looked at the normally annoying boy with slight softness in his eyes. He's actually not that bad, when his mouth is shut. He watched Ryou's horrified expression as the eldest white-haired boy opened the door, and shook his head as Ryou tried to speak, "I'll explain when we get him cleaned up."

Yuugi was in the living room, moving cushions on the couch and moving aside as Yami gently set Bakura down… Or, he tried, because Bakura was gripping his shirt in his unconscious state. And, when he tried to move the others' hands from his uniform, Bakura whimpered and gripped tighter.

So, defeated, Yami twirled with Bakura still in his arms, and sat down, placing Bakura in his lap. He sighed and shifted uncomfortably, and began to tell the story of the day, starting with the gym class.

When he finished, Ryou and Yuugi looked sadly at him. Finally, in unison, "You got him into this." Yami looked guiltily back.

After almost three hours of holding the unconscious Bakura, he picked the albino back up, and proceeded to get ready for bed. He wondered how much force the one called Ushio had put behind crushing Bakura to the wall when he noticed the blood in his would-be protector's hair. It wasn't that much, but it was a sad sight. He shook his head at the thought, wondering how he could think Bakura looked so pathetically upsetting when he was vulnerable.

Yami set Bakura on the bottom bunk, then he politely positioned himself on the floor, for he did not want to invade Bakura's privacy by taking his bed. Then, he cast one last look to the albino male and curled up in a ball on the carpet.

The next day was a weekend. And as dawn cast rosy fingers on the horizon, Bakura was hit in the face with a burst of orangey light, and finally, he awoke. He squinted against the brightness and groaned, his head throbbing. He looked around and saw Yami, who was lying on the floor.

Memories flooded into Bakura's mind from yesterday. He could remember Ushio's attack on Yami, then he remembered trying to defend the petite male who lay currently on the floor. He could sometimes recall flashes of Yami's face and throat, as he hovered above Bakura.

Bakura smiled, "You brought me home." He whispered, and then he rose, sliding gracefully from the bottom bunk. Then, with one backward glance at the other boy sleeping on the carpet, he left the room in silence, shutting the door behind him.