I know that Ryou's birthday is actually 2nd of September but I kinda forgot about it when I wrote the last few chapters because I was concentrating on trying to think up something for everyone to do to pass the time. So for the purpose of this fic his birthday will be the 3rd – the next day.

I'm also giving Bakura a separate birthday. I don't think it says anywhere when Ryou was given the Ring so I've made up my own date because I think Bakura would feel left out if he didn't get to have a birthday and the day Ryou got the Ring would be the best day to celebrate this birthday since the Egyptian calendar was really different to the modern day one.

After that slightly long note, enjoy!


Chapter 7

Ryou slowly awoke the next morning. He lay still for a few moments to gain his bearing before opening his eyes. He turned his head to see Bakura gazing at him. A small smile appeared on Ryou's face.

"Good morning," Ryou whispered.

"Happy Birthday," Bakura whispered back.

Ryou beamed a radiant smile. "You remembered."

"Of course." Bakura leaned forward and kissed Ryou's lips.

They stayed in that position – lips locked together – until something bumped into the door outside. They both turned and watched as someone tried to force the door open. Then a voice came from the other side. "Hey guys I can't get in!" Jou.

"Maybe it's locked." Yugi.

"Why would they put a lock on the door?" Jou again.

"The same reason I put a lock on the door – to keep stupid people out." Seto.

Ryou sighed. "Give us a few minutes to change and we'll come out!" he shouted.

Since there was no reply Ryou assumed that the others had gone. Bakura grumbled as he moved out of the nice warm bed. "Bastards; always ruining my fun."

Ryou giggled slightly when he heard this. He put his arms around Bakura's waist and smiled up at him. "Don't worry; they won't be ruining our fun tonight," Ryou said seductively.

Bakura smirked. "Why wait until tonight?" he asked before engaging Ryou in a deep kiss.

Ryou pulled back and answered, "Because Jou will try and break down the door again if we don't make an entrance in a few minutes."

Bakura nodded and half-heartedly got dressed. When they were both ready they opened the lock Bakura had expertly installed and went to see what their friends wanted. As soon as they stepped out the door they were met by a chorus of, "Happy Birthday Ryou!"

Ryou's grin intensified as he looked around at all the smiling faces of his friends (except for Seto who never smiles). Malik stepped forward and said, "Congratulations on being the first to reach the legal drinking age!" (18)

"What are you talking about? I was the first to reach the legal drinking age!" Bakura exclaimed. Then in a quieter voice he said, "Then again there wasn't really a legal drinking age 3000 years ago."

"By the way Bakura we were wondering if your birthday was on the same day as Ryou's," Yugi said.

Bakura shook his head. "Ryou and I decided that we'd celebrate my birthday on the day that he got the Ring. It's another two months until I'm…however old I am plus one."

"That's good because we haven't got you anything," Yami said brightly. Yugi gave him a side long glare. "What? He made me jump in the lake – I'm entitled to be mean," Yami defended.

"Enough of this mindless chatter," Seto said irritably before turning to Ryou. "Open your presents so we can go eat."

Everyone moved aside so that Ryou could see the small pile of presents that were placed on one of the sofas in the common room bit. Ryou rushed over, followed more slowly by everyone else. He read the labels and then tore off the paper, thanking the person he received the gift from.

From Yami and Yugi he got a new TRPG (tabletop role playing game). From Jou he got some wizard sweets he'd bought on the train. From Seto he got money since Seto wasn't exactly good at gift buying. From Malik and Marik he got 'sex for dummies' (Bakura had to stop himself laughing since Ryou didn't need anyone to tell him how to do it) and a few manga. Bakura's gift was a box of Creampuffs and a novel Ryou had wanted. After much hugging and thanking they all set off to the Great Hall.

The rest of the day was spent keeping Ryou away from the common room so that his party for that evening could be set up. Malik had managed to find some streamers and Bakura had asked Professor Dumbledore if the kitchen staff could make a cake. The headmaster had smiled and promised that he would have one made.

After dinner they all headed back up to the common room. As they reached the portrait hole Bakura crept behind Ryou and blindfolded him. Ryou turned his head to smile at him. "Don't want me to see the streamers and food for the surprise party I already know about until we get in there?" he asked teasingly.

"No, I don't want you to see the strippers we hired and run away," was Bakura's reply.

"And how exactly did you get them into a school?"

"We hid them in the cake. Now be quiet and climb through the hole."

Bakura helped Ryou to get through the portrait hole and then discreetly moved right behind him as he led the blindfolded boy to the middle of the common room. Everyone moved into Ryou's line of vision and shouted, "Surprise!" when the blindfold was removed.

Ryou put on a pretend look of shock and excitement. "This is amazing! Thank you everyone!"

/Did someone tell you we were throwing a party/ Bakura asked.

/No I just assumed you would. I would've been disappointed if there wasn't a party./ Ryou noticed the cake on the table and then thought/Don't tell me; the strippers are fairies./

/What do you mean/

/I mean they'd have to be tiny to fit inside that cake./

Bakura chuckled and they headed for the table where there was cake along with other unhealthy things like sweets and ice-cream. They then sat down on the sofas and armchairs before the fireplace to talk while Marik threw confetti over everyone.

When the sweets had gone (and Marik had run out of confetti) there was a need for some entertainment. "Let's play a game," said Yugi.

"What do you want to play?" asked Ryou.

"Truth or Dare," Malik said enthusiastically.

"No!" Yami cried. "I refuse to fall victim to your warped minds two days in a row."

Everyone turned to look at Bakura. "Why are you all staring at me?" he asked, slightly annoyed.

"We were hoping you knew some other party games," said Yugi earnestly.

"That don't involve you dishing out the punishments," added Yami, who had learnt his lesson last time.

Bakura thought about it for a moment before snapping his fingers and gaining a cruel smirk on his features. "Seven minutes in heaven."

"Shouldn't there be girls present for that game?" Jou asked.

"If you've got a better idea let's hear it," Bakura said harshly.

"Doesn't that game involve a closet? Last time I checked there wasn't one in this room and I refuse to let anyone do anything in my room," said Seto.

"Isn't that a closet?" Ryou said pointing to a door that hadn't been there five minutes ago.

"How did that get there?" asked Seto in astonishment.

"Seto, we're in a magic school. Does that answer your question?" said Malik calmly.

Seto muttered something like, "There's no such thing as magic," under his breath while Marik checked out the newly appeared door.

"As an official closet inspector I can safely say that this is definitely a closet." Everyone gave him very strange looks. "What? I have a certificate if you don't believe me."

"Don't ask," Malik said to everyone before turning to Marik and telling him to come and sit down.

"Does anyone have a bottle?" asked Bakura.

"There's one on the table," Ryou informed him.

Bakura nodded and retrieved the magically appeared bottle before returning to the circle of friends. "So, who wants the honour of going first?" he asked cheerfully.

"You suggested it so you should go first," said Yami reasonably.

Bakura sighed but knelt down and spun the bottle. It spun around quickly before slowing and finally pointing at…

"Yugi…This'll be interesting."

"Why?" asked Marik dumbly.

"Do you actually know how to play Seven minutes in heaven?" asked Jou.

Marik shook his head. Bakura rolled his eyes and decided to explain. "The idea of the game is to make out for seven minutes with whoever else is chosen. Of course no-one can actually see what you're doing so you could just stand there for seven minutes. And now that the rules have been explained to the clinically insane it's my turn. Come on Yugi."

Yugi stood up and followed Bakura, a look of nervousness on his bright red face. The door to the closet closed and everyone sat in silence, a beep from Ryou's watch signalling the start of round one.

Inside the closet the two occupants found that it was a very close fit. It was dark and they both had to spend a few moments letting their eyes adjust to just be able to make out the other's outline. "So Yugi, are we just going to stand here in awkward silence or are we going to give it a go?" asked Bakura, leaning back against the wall.

Yugi fiddled nervously with the hem of his shirt. "Err…well you see, Bakura, I err…I've never…I've never actually…been kissed before."

"Let me guess, you're saving your lips for that special someone right?" Yugi nodded shyly. "Don't nod or shake your head Yugi, I can't see you do it."

"Sorry. You're right, I was going to wait."

"How about – since it's only round one – we don't do anything? But know that if you get picked again it might just be with Marik and I don't think he'd be so lenient."

Yugi shivered as a disturbing image of him kissing Marik popped into his brain. "So what are we going to do for the next couple of minutes?"

Bakura's smirk was invisible within the darkness. "I'm going to corrupt you in mind instead of in body."

Meanwhile, Yami was starting to get agitated. The others had stopped straining to hear what was happening in the closet and had started a quiet conversation. Yami wasn't able to engage in small talk though. He was worried about what the vile fiend Bakura was doing to his innocent little hikari. Poor Yugi, trapped in a tight space with the heinous tomb robber. If he did anything to upset Yugi, Yami was going to sent him straight to the Shadow Realm.

Ryou's watch beeped and he shouted for Bakura to come out. Bakura exited the closet, a wide smirk on his face as he announced, "Little Yugi is innocent no more."

Yami jumped to his feet and pushed past Bakura to get to Yugi. He found the blushing boy and quickly demanded, "Yugi, did he hurt you? What happened?"

Yugi looked at him with wide eyes and said quietly, "I think I just learnt the meaning of every sex joke in existence."

Bakura cackled. "Don't worry Pharaoh I didn't touch him. I just taught him some very important terminology."

They all returned to their seats, Yami putting his arm around Yugi's shoulders in a comforting gesture. Yami was annoyed that Bakura had told his hikari such vulgar things but at least he hadn't touched him. Yami was thankful for that and wished that he would be chosen to go with Yugi if the hikari was chosen again. At least that way he'd make sure that no-one else tried to harm his Yugi.

Yami blinked when he realized how possessive he sounded. Was it because he'd been hanging around the tomb robber for too long or was it because he had feelings for Yugi that went beyond a yami-hikari relationship? Yugi was very good looking and sweet and kind and…

Yami took a deep breath to calm himself down. He could think about this later. Right now he should be concentrating on the game.

Bakura had already spun the bottle and Jou had been chosen for round two. The bottle was now slowing for the second time and was about to land on…

"Malik, you're up."

When they were both inside they decided that they might as well go along with the game. It wasn't anything too passionate because every time they went back for another kiss they'd miss completely. When the seven minutes were up they both walked out rubbing sore noses.

The bottle was spun again and the participants for round three were Seto and Ryou. Both went into the closet and stood in silence for a few moments. "So…are we going to do anything or are we just going to stand here?" asked Ryou.

"Stand here," replied Seto stoically.

"In that case can you please move your thigh?"

Seto blushed and pushed himself back into the wall behind him. There was silence again before Ryou decided to try and strike up conversation. "So…how's your company doing?"

By the time seven minutes was up Ryou never wanted to hear another thing about business or shares ever again.

Next it was Marik and Yami's turn. Marik had to practically drag Yami to the closet while the poor pharaoh began to recite his will. When he was able to escape Yami was as white as a sheet and was muttering incoherently for a few minutes before he finally came back to reality. He then found out that his precious hikari had left for the closet with Seto. Yami was slightly relieved by this since even if Seto was willing to participate in the game properly the closet was too narrow for him to bend down and reach Yugi's lips.

When those two came out Yami was up again, this time with Jou. They decided to just stand there and talk about duel monsters for seven minutes before leaving the accursed closet.

Malik and Marik were up next. There was a general assumption that this time there would actually be some action so everyone decided to talk that extra bit louder to drown out the noises.

"Hello hikari," Marik said seductively. "Ready to play?"

"You bet!" Malik replied and leaned in closer.

A few minutes later, outside the closet, Bakura stood up and declared, "I'm bored of this game." He then went over to the closet, locked the door and sat back down.

Everyone (except possibly Seto) stared at him in horror. "Why the hell did you do that?" asked Jou. "Malik and Marik are still inside!"

"Exactly, I'm making the game more interesting," Bakura replied logically. "Don't worry, I'll let them out in a couple of hours," he said when he saw the look Ryou was giving him.

"Alone for hours in a closet with Marik." Yami shook his head. "I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone…Well, maybe Bakura but he made me jump in the lake."

"Give it a rest Yami. If you hadn't noticed - nobody cares," Seto said in the same 'I'm better than you so don't mess with me' tone that he always used.

There was some uneasiness in the group but once the conversation picked up again they all forgot about the two blonds who had yet to get the memo about the new twist in the game.

It was about fifteen minutes after they were supposed to have left the closet before either blond noticed that something was wrong.

"Marik, is it just me or does it seem like it's been more than seven minutes?" asked Malik.

"No, it doesn't seem like more than a minute since I entered paradise," Marik replied.

"Are you on drugs? Or did you sniff paint again?"

Marik sighed. "So much for trying to be romantic," he said under his breath. "No Malik, I was comparing kissing you to being in a place of bliss."

"Aww, that's sweet Marik," Malik said happily. "But sweet doesn't suit you. It's like Yami being modest – it just doesn't seem right. I prefer the crazy lunatic you."

"Is that the sort of quality you look for in a boyfriend?"

Malik stopped for a second, stunned. "Boyfriend?"

Marik shifted a bit nervously. "Why not? I mean I like you as a friend so why can't it be more than that? We're part of the same whole you know – we complete each other. You're the light and I'm the darkness. I have to admit that I'm not just physically attracted to you. I like your sense of humour and courage and cheek. You're also a damn good kisser. So why not give it a go? I'm not wanting a commitment (like hell am I going to commit) but if we both like each other why not try and go the extra mile, as they say?"

Malik tilted his head to the side in thought. Why shouldn't they give it a go? He liked Marik in a personal as well as physical way (well when someone looked almost exactly like him how could they not be drop-dead gorgeous?). And Marik was right – they were part of the same whole. They'd probably always be together or close for that reason so why not be a couple and make things a hell of a lot easier. And like Marik said, they weren't committing and proposing eternal love. Maybe later they could do that but for now they had some serious business to get down to.

"I'd love for us to be a couple," Malik said as he slid his arms around Marik's waist. "Because now we have a good excuse for going places while we're stuck in here."

Marik smirked. "I love the way you think."

"What else do you love?" Malik asked before he leaned in and had his lips captured by his wonderful new boyfriend.

Some time later, the people outside the closet decided that the two blonds had been forced to endure each other's company for long enough. Bakura was nominated to go release them so that (being the one who locked them) could rightly receive the punishment for holding them captive.

Bakura unlocked then opened the door before quickly slamming it shut. "I think we should end the game now," he said to the others.

"Why?" asked Yugi.

"Because after seeing just what happened in there I refuse to enter that closet," Bakura replied.

"It can't be that bad," said Jou.

"Come see for yourself and then maybe you'll change your mind," dared Bakura.

"Isn't that infringing on their right to privacy?" said Yugi, trying to discourage Jou from taking the bait.

"You're just making up an excuse not to see what's happening yourself," Bakura accused.

Yugi stayed quiet after that. Partly because Bakura was right and partly because he knew no-one was going to listen to him.

Jou got up and looked inside the closet before slamming the door shut. He then turned to Bakura, his face paler than usual, and said, "You're right; we should just leave them alone."

"I can't believe you two are so appalled by those two making out," Yami said contemptuously.

"If I remember correctly didn't you have a mental breakdown after spending seven minutes in there with Marik?" asked Seto with a smirk on his face.

"Shut up," hissed Yami.

"If the pharaoh's so brave why hasn't he had a look inside?" Bakura bated.

"I think I will look and show that you're both just overreacting," Yami said as he strode over to the closet.

"This is all going to end in tears," Ryou said quietly as he shook his head.

Yami reached the closet and opened the door. His eyes widened immediately and his face turned pale. "Oh Ra! My eyes!" he shouted before he fainted.

Yugi ran over to help Yami while Bakura shut the closet door without looking in. Ryou sighed and said to no-one in particular, "I knew it would end in tears, or in this case fainting."

After helping Yugi drag Yami into their room everyone retired to bed, leaving Malik and Marik to do what they liked in private.

Bakura was feeling quite proud of himself for getting Malik and Marik together (he hoped they were together and not just doing dirty things you shouldn't do) with his ingenious plan. One down and three to go!

"Did you have an enjoyable Birthday Ryou?" Bakura asked.

"Yes, thank you for everything," Ryou said as he hugged Bakura.

"Don't thank me yet," Bakura whispered into his lover's ear. "There's still one more present left for me to give."

Ryou gasped as he felt the zipper on his pants be pulled down. "I'd almost forgotten that I'd promised you we could do it tonight if you had the lock and sound barriers in operation."

"Oh they're operating, and waiting to be put to the test." Bakura pushed Ryou down onto the bed and crawled on top of him. "So how would you like to be pleasured tonight love?"

Ryou blushed and whispered something in Bakura's ear. Bakura smirked at the request. "You dirty little minx. I think I'm going to enjoy tonight."


Please Review!