Oh my goodness! Rohanfox told me I hadn't updated this since December! So here's an update with plenty of Thiefshipping and whatnot! I decided to edit round some things though. So the ghost stuff will be next chapter, sorry! I just felt it was better to leave this focused on the athletics day and leave the ghost scene which'll take place that night for the next chapter. In any case, I hope you enjoy the chapter! Also I really need to update this more, I'm excited for certain scenes in upcoming chapters. There'll be drunk!Malik in the future and it shall be lul.

Er anyway, enjoy!

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Chapter Eight: Inspire

Bakura's POV

"I hate to say it but I need your help with something!"

Yami blinked a couple of times and asked me why I'd hate to receive help from him. Then he did some stupid ramble about how we were roommates last year and so we should never feel uncomfortable about approaching one another. This is precisely why I tend not to approach Yami. He has good intentions but he can be a bit of a preacher at times. I don't know; he can just get on my nerves like that.

That's not the point however. There's something Yami is capable of and I'm not good with it. After Yami finished his ramble, I finally got to the point.

"How the fuck do you manage to put up with difficult people?!" Then the damn spiky-haired teen felt the need to ask me to define my idea of 'difficult people'. One word. Malik. I told him this and Yami raised an eyebrow. I sighed. "From what I gather, you can tolerate practically anybody. Heck, you can handle Seto Kaiba of all people! In more ways than one. Oh sorry, was that a secret?"

He frowned as his cheeks blushed pink. "Okay okay. I'll help you out if you pipe down about that. It's because there have already been tons of rumours regarding Kaiba and I since that outburst Malik did at assembly," he replied. I grinned. Excellent.

-

Yami and I went to an unoccupied section of the stands where the closest students to us were bratty little first years who tried to get us to move but unfortunately for them, they were challenging me of all people and it wasn't long before they backed off quickly. On the other hand, Yami just stood and watched until eventually commenting that I've been holding back. Wait, holding back?

I questioned what he meant by that and he sat down and began to explain. "Bakura, we've been roommates. I feel like I do know you. After all, you had a way of making the fight come to you so you didn't look the fool challenging somebody. You seem to capture prey unlike Mariku who intentionally hunts it down. Either way, you both know how to get what you want and yet I know you're capable of hunting yourself. That's what I mean by holding back." Way to go, Yami. Explain things in a way in which I still don't understand any of the shit you're saying. Geez.

"So anyway, difficult people. Namely Malik. How do I put up with them?" I asked with a groan.

"What did Malik do to you?"

"Try to rape me until I agreed to bake him cookies; does it make any difference what I say?!"

"Well, it would help if you told the truth. Malik would never rape anyone until the person agrees to bake him cookies," Yami pointed out. Ugh, he needs more of a sense of humour.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure Mariku would."

"...Weirdly enough, I can believe that," Yami admitted. We both smiled a little at this. He sighed. "From what I know, Malik thinks he's done a lot of wrong in life. Yet he doesn't try to sugar-coat things or aim to do all these things in order to make up for what he's done. He wants to be himself and face up to everything as himself with his own strength. Do you feel like you have to do all this stuff for him or something?"

"Uh... Mm..." I nodded. "For some reason Otogi and Mariku act like I should be waiting on him hand and foot and Otogi says Malik thinks I've been using him and I just... I don't know!" Yami sighed.

"I don't know about Malik but Otogi and Mariku definitely have growing up to do. Mariku and Otogi seem to think because Malik's quite an unstable character that he needs help but it's because they don't truly understand the situation. Ryou, Yugi and I have discussed Malik and here's what we think: Malik does not want to be babied but he does want someone to be there, even if they're not always going to console him. He just wants to be accepted for who he is as he is. Ryou mentioned something to do with forgiveness. So what do you actually think?"

Wha? Oh... Yami spoke for a bit and I got lost. Is he trying to say that when it comes to Malik, all I need to do is be there even if I don't do a thing while I'm there? What? But I can understand the feeling of not wanting to be babied. I'd feel like the person was looking down on me if they did that. Perhaps that's how Malik feels. Then again, I guess there's a lot I don't know about him.

He said it himself. If he wanted to tell me stuff, he'd tell me stuff. So I guess the best thing to do really is just be there. But I still don't understand why Otogi says Malik feels like he's being used. Used for what?

Perhaps Malik doesn't want to set me up with Mariku. It's weird though. We agreed to help each other out, didn't we? Ugh, I don't know. He's confusing. I can tell he says a lot of things he doesn't mean. It's possible that while he says he'll help me out with Mariku, he has no interest in doing so. Ugh, I'm sick of pondering my thoughts.

Yami and I flinch when a voice boomed through the stadium. It was Seto announcing the winners for the long jump in our grade. I don't hear Malik's name being mentioned. Ugh, he lost. He should be okay so long as he did better than Otogi. "Let's check on Malik," Yami suggested and before I could respond, he was already heading in the general direction leaving me with little choice but to follow.

-

"I don't fucking believe this!" Malik snapped in between shovelling the contents of chip packets into his mouth. I stared at the packet for a moment and pointed out that the chips had chicken flavouring. The next thing I knew, crumbs sprayed from his mouth and I received a chip packet to the face.

Just delightful. Ugh.

It turned out that Malik's final jump was brilliant but apparently he jumped too late or something and got disqualified. Is it just me or are Ishtar kids good at sports but also good at getting themselves disqualified?

Wait a second. He doesn't seem to be annoyed at me in particular. So what's going on here? I turned to Otogi with a bewildered look and he grinned.

"By any chance did my comments throw you into a panic?" Otogi asked. Huh? Well I don't know; you did imply that I'd done something horrifically wrong and Malik is overly pissed about it or something and feels used and other shit. Whether it was me panicking or not, I don't care. I mean, shut up, no. Bakura Touzoku never panics. True facts. Otogi saw my expression and burst out laughing. "Ahaha!! I hope you've learned something here." Malik opened a can of soda in front of Otogi and we watched as the soda liquid came spurting out into his face. "Gyaah!! What was that for?!"

"For invading my complaints session," he responded after everyone surrounding us had finished laughing at the dark-haired model. He pointed a finger at me. "First off, why did you never mention Ryou-kun's crush? If I knew, then I wouldn't have done anything and would have got on with my life ages ago!"

Jounouchi and Honda glanced at each other and shrugged, then turned to see my response. Yami did the same, minus the shrugging.

I sighed. "Crush? What, do you seriously think I'd have known?" I groaned loudly. "For fuck's sake, I may be his brother – his twin even but I... I don't know everything about him."

Malik scowled. "You should know something like that. I know for certain that twins share a connection that normal siblings do not!" he replied irritably. "Mariku and I, even though we don't really like each other, we still know everything about one another!" ...I have no excuse. Nor do I feel the need to find one. He shouldn't assume that because Ryou and I are twins that we ought to understand one another. Malik and Mariku are more alike than Ryou and I. So naturally they'd know a lot about each other compared to me and Ryou. "Whatever!" he snapped, seeing that I didn't have an answer. "I'm going! Seeing as I have to prepare for more events. Fuck that long jump. What's so great about attempting to the far end of a cruddy sandpit anyway?"

With a forced grin, I answered that with, "You wouldn't be thinking that if you won."

Here comes the punch. He smirked and told me to go get fucked. Harsh words, but I think I know what he meant. Malik left us with nothing more to say.

Honda jumped to pat me on the back sympathetically. "Trying to think of the words... Ah, thanks for interfering with Malik's complaints regarding the long jump. We all admittedly stopped caring five minutes after he got disqualified," he told me with a nervous smile.

Otogi shuffled over so that he was beside Honda and nodded in agreement. "It was good that Malik-san didn't destroy anything, right?"

Jounouchi laughed. "He still says and does strange things! In a way, he's very girl-like, don'tcha think? With those bitchfits and mood swings and everything!"

If Malik knew that almost everyone thinks of him as being quite the girl, he'd probably destroy the world. Yet it's true. He isn't as destructive as he used to be. It's a bloody good thing because I'm sick of him trying to have his way over me just because I can't be bothered fighting with a guy like him. So that bitchy male better win his races.

Eh? What the fuck is... I blinked and realise Otogi was putting his arm around me. "Get off," I said in a grumpy tone but he didn't listen. Should've figured with that half-assed attempt.

"Did you know why I said those things back there?" he asked, knowing I would want to know the answer. I rolled my eyes. Fuck, he's irritating. "I knew exactly how you'd react. There's a lot of things you don't know but the things you say and do, while you're unaware of them, it all speaks for itself." Wait, so this bastard tricked me into thinking was wrong when there wasn't really?! So I got worked up over nothing?! That makes me... Otogi cracked up. "Bakura, you're so so so dumb! Say, Mariku and Ryou-kun feel used too, whatcha gonna do about that?"

Okay, now I really know he's lying. Fucking hell. Yami, who I almost forgot was there too, did a small sigh. Honda and Jounouchi seemed like they wanted out of the conversation and made a dash for it, their excuse being that they were going to get drinks for all of us.

"Do those skills of manipulation come in handy in the modelling industry?" Yami asked with a raised eyebrow.

Otogi winked at him. "Sometimes it's the way to get booked for jobs."

-

Hours passed and it was getting to the last event of the day. The class relays between the three year groups. Of course, I'm in the second year group but like fuck I'm racing. But before I continue about that – I've been keeping track of results during the day.

Malik's done exceptionally well, like fuck he's through to the regional tournament. It amazed me though how talented he actually was at athletics. But it was something he never really made a point of showing. If he trained properly often, he could end up being one of the top athletes of his age group in the country. Or at least I think so. He's going to be in the regional tournament for 100m, 200m and 400m sprint races. Seeing him run those races and place first in each excited me somehow. It was good to see someone I liked kicking the asses of fellow competitors I didn't give a shit for. But not just good. Bloody brilliant.

Mariku and Otogi have each done pretty well for themselves too. But not on the same scale as Malik, hell no. Otogi got to the finals for 400m and Marik for 100 and 200m. But you have to place in the top three to get to the regional tournament. Mariku kept placing 4th while Otogi placed 5th.

It's a shame really. Seems like Malik will be surrounded by mostly people he doesn't get on with at the tournament. Actually I think it's better that way. Malik can focus on winning, which is what I like to see.

But yes, now's the class relay! The first years had just completed theirs and some kid relative of Seto Kaiba's won. His name was Noa or something and he won the race for his class. Normally I wouldn't know this information but Ryou decided to abandon his class to sit with me in the stands so that we could cheer on our fellow roommates together. Honda stood up and began to cheer as our classes each sent out their runners for the relay team. I think we got a good line up. The first runner is Otogi, second is Jounouchi, third is Yami and the fourth and final runner is Malik.

"Go Class 2KD!!" Honda yelled out, which signalled all the students to begin cheering also.

I grinned to myself. With Malik on our side, we're bound to win.

"The competition is pretty interesting," Ryou noted. "Look Bakura! The final runners include Kaiba-kun, Mariku-kun and Malik-kun! Everyone knows now that Malik-kun is quite a force to be reckoned with in running but if his teammates aren't quick enough, he may not have the speed to make up for it."

What, Mariku's racing? Huh... I know he'll do well. But I dunno. My classmate and roommate is racing against the guy I like, which feels weird to me. Who to cheer for? I mean, Malik's a good runner and doesn't need my support but it's not like Mariku would be able to hear me while running. So who do I cheer for?

"Bakura! Come on!" Honda interrupted my thought process as he took me and Ryou to the finish line, reminding my brother to take photos of students crossing the finish line. We managed to get there a little before the first runners got onto the starting blocks. Ah, Otogi looks pretty determined. He noticed our approach and smiled – it looked weirdly genuine and it felt like he wasn't looking at Ryou but either Honda or I – I honestly couldn't tell as Honda was standing with me while Ryou was trying to find a good angle to take photos from. "Give us a good start, Otogi!"

Pah, of course he will. Even so, I think for the first time I'll try and really cheer on somebody. So who? Malik or Mariku? You know what? It should be fucking obvious! I don't need to cheer on Malik in order for him to win, you know.

"On your marks!" the man with the starting gun called. All first runners were in position. "Set!" They tensed up in anticipation.

Then came the bang of the gun.

Otogi was in the fourth lane and quickly got to the lead to begin with but I saw a runner from Seto's class start to get faster. Honda's yelling and cheering was the most clear sound to me amongst the uproar of the school. But for once, I didn't mind it. Being in this atmosphere. Normally I slunk into the shadows with my stupid books being antisocial but now I was part of the crowd feeling the mood around me. Excitement, anticipation, I felt it pumping through my veins like nothing before.

I urged Otogi to run faster silently but also out loud. But that runner passed him just as they reached the second runner. Otogi handed the baton to Jounouchi, no problem. The second runners made a straight beeline to the third runner.

Shit, class 2KD is coming second so far. Seto's class is up ahead while Mariku's class is getting close behind ours. Jounouchi's keeping his place though. Fuck, it's way too close for my liking. Ah the third runners now. Jounouchi passed the baton to Yami. Yes, he's bringing us back into the lead! Yes, yes, yes – NO! Fuck, Mariku and Seto's teams' third runners are overtaking him! Shit, Yami's not keeping up enough! Come on, come on!

Fuck, the fourth runners. Mariku, you know what? I want to cheer for you, I really do. Because I like you I'd cheer for you, I'd really cheer for you.

Seto and Mariku each took hold of their respective batons.

However, Mariku...

Yami passed his baton to Class 2KD's final runner: Malik Ishtar.

...You should know that I don't need to cheer for Malik in order for him to win...

My voice rose above all others. "GO MALIK! WIN THE GODDAMN RACE!!"

...It just so happens I want to cheer for him more than I want to cheer for you.

Malik shot off and was quick to catch up to Mariku with Seto just a little bit ahead. It got close to halfway – shit! Mariku tried to push ahead when he tripped over instead. Fuck, that's gotta suck. I heard the whole crowd react to him tripping over. But now's not the time to care! In this moment where one mad student's voice can be heard above all else, I have to continue to cheer!

"GO MALIK, GO! NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!!"

In that exact moment, I felt like he could hear me. He didn't look back to see if Mariku was alright. No, he's a smarter athlete than that. He's reaching the finish line. Now him and Seto are equal. Come on, Malik, come on! You have to beat Seto Kaiba of all people! The guy who you tried to stand up to in assembly and not just that – he's the guy whole stole Ryou's heart once. So Malik, you have to beat him!

...Oh my fucking god. If my eyes served me right, in the final ten metres Malik got himself ahead of Seto. The crowd around me went wild. Honda held up a hand and lost in the moment, I high-fived him. Did Malik just...? Yes.

He freaking won!

Malik won the class relay for 2KD.

That fucking epic guy!

I found myself leaping over the fence to go out onto the track once all the other racers crossed the line. Before anyone else, I had to get there before anything else. Malik was puffing and the moment he turned around the right way, he was met by me throwing my arms around him tight.

Malik won the fucking race!

Screw Otogi slipping into second. Screw Jounouchi not getting us a place ahead. Screw Yami for getting overtaken by two teams. Screw Mariku for tripping up midrace. Screw Seto for thinking he could try take first place away from us.

"Ba...Bakura, it's hard to... to breathe!" Malik cried out weakly. Instead, more members of our class latched on and made it a group hug with the entire class with Malik and I at the centre.

It's strange to think that last year I would've stayed away from all this. Not interacted with anybody – fuck it, I hated sporting events. They're just not my thing. It's not that I couldn't socialise or do sport or cheer or anything. I just didn't choose to. Yet Malik, he made me participate in events and inspire me to join in this unfamiliar atmosphere. But he was new to it all too and won all these events and now he's definitely made a name for himself. Perhaps students will recognise his talent more than his temper. If that's possible. Still, I underestimated Malik. I'll accept him as a friend and a valued one. Someone who needn't be compared to Mariku who simply got disqualified, mucked around and then tripped at the crucial moments. Not to make Mariku sound bad but... I shouldn't compare the Ishtar twins anymore.

Otogi's intentions make a lot more sense to me now. He made me freak out over nothing but realise something. What's he seeing that I don't see?

He's near the centre of the group hug too. Like Malik, I felt he looked truly happy. This group hug is freaking tight, it's almost uncomfortable. I couldn't even get a chance to really be part of the hug. Yes, I was at the centre but I'm only hugging Malik and his arms weren't free to hug anyone. He looked happy but I could tell from his eyes that he was a little irritated too. I think the students around us could sense it but they didn't fear it either.

"Right, can a guy get some breathing space?!" Malik snapped eventually, making himself heard amongst the cheering and all else. Jounouchi ruffled the blonde Egyptian's hair and joined Otogi and Honda.

Ryou skipped over to us, seeing that the group hug was dispersing. "Malik-kun, that was amazing!" he complimented him. Malik's face lit up as he thanked him.

"Yeah Malik, you're actually a pretty cool guy!" a student from another class commented.

"...'Actually'?" Malik asked with a raised eyebrow. The student looked worried but Malik chuckled at him. "Hey, you came second in that hundred metre race, didn't you? What place did your class come just then?"

"Third! Mariku tripping certainly gave us an advantage!"

Speak of the devil; Mariku's approaching us with a less than pleasant air about him. Malik ignored him however and went off with the student along with some others seemingly content with chatting to them. I patted Mariku on the back sympathetically and Ryou followed suit. He swatted us away, telling us that he didn't need comforting. Yeah, say it without that pissy expression of yours, eh?

"I fucking tripped over fucking nothing in front of the fucking school!" Mariku swore out loud, making some nearby teachers raise an eyebrow. "Did you fucking see that? Oh wait a fucking moment – everyone fucking saw that!"

"What place did your class come?" I asked out of curiosity.

Ryou held up his hand. "Fifth place," he told me. Mariku snorted.

"Yeah, what Ryou said. Fucking hell I'm going to get mocked for tripping up midrace!" he complained. I rested an elbow on his shoulder.

"At least Malik did well today!" I pointed out. Mariku's face softened.

"...Mm. Yeah, I'll go congratulate him or something," he muttered and then he ran over to his brother and joined the group of students surrounding him.

Huh, mentioning Malik's victory seemed to cheer Mariku up. I guess he isn't so harsh that he'd complain over his mistakes and ignore Malik's achievements. But I get the feeling Malik doesn't win over Mariku often. And I think that is something that very much separates the two and defines where they stand with each other. Mariku is a naturally dominating person but Malik is someone who wants to be recognised for himself and not as 'Mariku's bad tempered brother'.

Looking over at Mariku and Malik, Ryou and I groaned. Mariku did congratulate Malik for a second only to then rant about tripping up midrace. For goodness sake, nobody would dare pick on Mariku regardless of his almost comical trip-up. When someone pisses off Mariku, the next thing that happens is red rain. Work it out.

Ryou tapped my shoulder. "Hey Bakura! I want to bake a cake for Malik-kun to congratulate him on his efforts. He did train hard and everything so I think those efforts should be rewarded!" Baking... I suppose Malik would like anything Ryou made. Ryou is a pretty good cook and all.

"For fuck's sake, I may be his brother – his twin even but I... I don't know everything about him."

"You should know something like that. I know for certain that twins share a connection that normal siblings do not!"

Ugh, I think I understand a little bit more. Right, I'll take initiative. "Hey Ryou, I'll help you. Teach me how to bake. I mean, Malik's probably going to do well in future so uh..." I felt my face going pink. Oh fuck, I can't believe I'm saying this. "...I could uh... bake more for him seeing as I'm his roommate. Plus one day I'll have to cook for myself so I may as well get in the practise now!" Excuses, excuses, reasonable excuses at that too!

My brother blinked at me a couple of times in surprise. "...Bakura? That's... something I wouldn't expect you to say. But of course you can help!" He raised an eyebrow. "I heard you cheering nice and loudly for Malik. You were right into it, weren't you? If I were to draw conclusions, I'd say you like Malik!" What?! No, that's not it!! "You're going red, Kura~ but it's okay! You don't have to say it, I understand."

And with that, he too went to join the others as they got off the track for the third years' relay. But what the hell was Ryou on about just then? He's just making up crap, right? I didn't just act like I favoured Malik, did I?

"I know for certain that twins share a connection that normal siblings do not!"

No, Ryou and I don't share that much of a connection! He just doesn't realise the truth, I'll forgive him. The truth is the truth, right?

So according to the truth, I like Mariku. That's how it is. I just want to be nicer to Malik because he's my friend. That's all. That's really all it is.

There isn't anything weird between Malik and I.

Not at all!

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Next chapter: Ghosts! What the hell do they have to do with anything? Also Bakura tackles cooking with Ryou! Malik and Bakura then find themselves faced with what they think is a prediction of the future: a future with each other! What is this I don't even? Not on Bakura and Malik's watches it ain't happening!

And with that in mind, until next time!

Adios!

Mel-Girl.