A/N: I like this chapter, it balances the revolutionshipping and angstshipping pretty well I think (I hope!). So for those of you who like one shipping more than the other, hopefully this will satisfy everyone! I was dissapointed that no one picked up on my direct quote in the last chapter but then again, Season 0 is not that popular. No chapter dedications for anyone, although you can always ask in a review if you want to know what the line actually was!

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: Someone actually commented (what a smart reviewer! I was very impressed they picked up on that plot hint) that I didn't change Ryou's name to Bakura Ryou, rather leaving it in the Japanese format of Ryou Bakura (Ryou being his last name and Bakura being his first). You may have noticed in other chapters that Miho calls Ryou by 'Ryou' while everyone else calls him 'Bakura' (since that is technically his first name. I tried to stick to the Season 0 canon as much as possible!) However, I also implied that he and Miho are best friends. You will also note in this chapter that even his other friends like Anzu refer to him as Bakura and comment that only people he is very close to call him Ryou. His preference to being called by his last name by people he is very close to is somewhat explained in this chapter, but really I only hinted at it a little. As usual with anything to do with Marik or Ryou it is more fully explained and developed/delved into in the companion story I will be posting after this which tells the story again only focusing on that shipping. For more on that see my profile, I've already babbled enough!

Disclaimer: Not Mine!

"Mutou-san I've been thinking," She started as he she started to pack up her science. She'd successfully completed all her homework correctly under his watchful eye and on top of her Marik-Bakura discovery this morning it had put her in a good mood.

He seemed to be in a good enough mood, not as open as he had been yesterday but he had greeted her pleasantly enough. He froze slightly at her words, giving her a slightly suspicious look and she wondered vaguely what he was thinking.

"You do roll call every morning so it's easy for you to know what my name is, plus you hear my friends call me Anzu all the time. I've known you for what feels like a long time and I have no idea what yours is," She mused aloud and he relaxed a little.

For a moment he wondered if she was actually going to bring up his clear romantic motion towards her from yesterday. Though he didn't regret it he wasn't sure he wanted to talk about it either. He also noted carefully that the swelling was gone and only a faint purple shadow marked the bruised area.

Not enough to take away from her attractive features.

"My name? It's not all that hard to figure out," He teased as she pouted.

"Well I already asked Yuugi and Bakura-kun, neither of them would tell me," She complained childishly and he was a little surprised by the second name.

"Ryou? Why him?" He questioned, feeling a lurch in his gut once again. "

You guys seem to be friends to me, and you call him Ryou so you must be close," She said with an innocent shrug that he suspected wasn't so innocent but he was willing to let it drop. She hadn't brought up the past explicitly yet, which he was grateful for. The very idea of the conversation made his head hurt.

"I suppose we are," He murmured and she smiled.

"So what is it?" She pressed and he laughed again, a playful glint in his eyes as he picked up his bag. He'd taken to leaving at the same time as her, toying with the idea of offering her a ride home of these days. After all she was probably the last student to leave the building by the time she was done practicing and her tutoring lesson.

It seemed a little forward though...then again he'd already kissed her, a ride home didn't seem nearly as bad.

"Yuugi's never called me anything but Mutou-san?" He asked, feeling a little strange talking in the third person but the thoughtful look on her pretty face was worth it. Wow, this crush thing was getting distracting. At least it hadn't taken away from his teaching yet.

"Well...I think he started to call you something once...does it start with a Y?" She asked and by his smile she knew she had gotten it right.

"Yes!" She exclaimed triumphantly to his amusement. "Well it can't be Yuugi since that's his name...can I have a clue?" She begged and he shook his head stubbornly though an idea was starting to form.

"Fine, I'll find a way to figure it out," She declared, amber eyes gleaming passionately when her begging didn't get through to him. "See you tomorrow, 'Mutou-san'," She said teasingly, tossing him a glance and started to walk away then hesitated.

Turning back she took one step forward and stretched up on her toes to peck him on the cheek sweetly before rocketing out of the classroom before he could say a word. He felt a little stunned for a moment then laughed at his own reaction.

So maybe she really did have a crush on him.

...

He was doing that thing again. That longing thing. He would stand there, stretching halfheartedly while staring at the door of the boys change room as though he wanted to go in there but wouldn't let himself.

It had been like this for almost a full week now and it was driving Anzu nuts. Just go talk to him! She wanted to say but could see how it would be a touchy matter for someone like Marik especially because he had said himself that he wasn't sure if the other 'swung that way'.

Still, he didn't even seem able to start up a conversation in class! Growing impatient, Anzu reached into her bag pulling out a note she and Miho had concocted earlier that day. Miho agreed after observation that Bakura at least seemed interested in Marik though they never seemed to talk and he blushed over the mere mention of the solemn boy even if he wouldn't admit his feelings.

Anzu insisted from Marik's after school behavior that he had some sort of feelings for Bakura though she couldn't prove what they were even if she wanted to, so they came up with this plan. They agreed if by the end of the week neither seemed to have made any move on the other they would step in as 'match makers' of sorts.

Anzu felt a little strange match-makering two boys but since she didn't really have any feelings towards or against gay relationships she didn't see a problem. Besides, Marik was so painfully shy sometimes that she wanted to ring his neck; any sort of relationship, friendship or otherwise, would do him good.

Once he was actually in the conversation he did fine but up until then...walking over she tried her best to look innocent, one of the reasons Miho hadn't been sure about the plan. After all she was a terrible actor.

"Marik-kun, have you seen Bakura lately?" She mused and he looked up quickly, a carefully blank expression on his face.

"Not recently," He muttered, sneaking another glance at the door which confirmed to her that he must still be in there waiting and maybe hoping that Marik would come in and talk to him.

Well who was she to stand in the way of his wishes?

"I didn't see him come out of the change room but I can't exactly go in there...Miho wanted me to give him a note for her since their dance partners and I'm friends with both of them. Could you go in and check for me?" She asked sweetly, offering him the note.

He looked a little suspicious but also a little jealous at the mention of Miho if she wasn't mistaken and hesitantly took the note, moving towards the change room slowly. Step one complete, step two was up to them.

Opening the door cautiously, Marik entered, looking around carefully this time to see if anyone else was in there and unsurprisingly the white haired teen was taking his sweet time changing in the corner. He suspected he spent his time socializing when the other guys were in here.

He seemed like that kind of guy. Maybe that was why Marik had this inexplicable interest in a person he barely knew. At the sound of the door Bakura turned around, the full front of his button down shirt hanging wide open.

Swallowing hard, Marik saw the other probable reason for his new found interest. It wasn't his fault that this guy was undeniably gorgeous from his feminine face to his sculpted body. Making up his mind he walked over boldly, ignoring the bare-chested factor and held out the note.

"Anzu wanted me to give you this," He said and Bakura accepted it without question, a curious look on his face. The look quickly changed to shock then embarrassment as he folded the note quickly in his hand, giving Marik a wide eyed look.

That adorable innocent rouge color was glowing in his cheeks again and Marik wondered vaguely what he'd look like if he actually tried hitting on him.

"Um...did you read this?" He asked quietly and Marik raised an eyebrow slightly.

"No, should I have?" He responded then could have smacked himself for subconsciously flirting a bit. Ok it was a fairly benign comment; something one guy could say to another he was fairly sure. Maybe he was just becoming paranoid. Nothing new there, he'd never been very comfortable with anyone in change rooms.

"No!" Bakura immediately squeaked, pocketing the note quickly, the words still echoing in his head.

Ryou we figured out who your new crush is and we decided to send him along as a present with our blessings! Miho-chan and Anzu chan! :D

Those girls would be the death of him, he thought darkly though it had sort of looked like Marik was checking him out a bit when he walked in. Now he was just leaning back against the wall with his arm crossed casually looking completely comfortable.

It was what had initially caught his attention about him; lots of people passed judgment based on the rumors circulating him and none of the guys liked to have him in the change room while they got undressed. When it was just the two of them though, Marik had this constant air of nonchalant worldly wisdom that Ryou was drawn to like 'inrigue' was the most delicious scent in the world.

On top of all that Bakura couldn't help thinking it was ironic that the other boys welcomed him into their precious change room while avoiding the other like the plague even though as far as he knew Marik wasn't even 'completely bent' like he was.

Realizing that he was staring he quickly started to button up his shirt, smiling a little to himself. It was a harmless crush, hopefully Marik would never even know...though the thought did make him a little sad.

"Hey, Ryou?" Said an aloof voice and he immediately stood up straighter, not oblivious to the use of his last name without an honorific though it didn't bother him. He preferred to be called that way by people he cared about; it felt almost as if Marik had read his mind. Maybe he had picked it up from Miho while she and Anzu were gossiping about him.

"Yes?" He asked politely, flushing a little as Marik looked down at him curiously from his lazy spot by the wall.

"You're a lot shorter than I thought you were," Was all he said, skilfully sending Ryou's mind spinning. Was there supposed to be some hidden message in that? That he was noticing him? Ugh, he was screwing with his mind without even trying.

"That's why I never dance with Anzu-chan. We're too close to the same height, even if she is the best dancer in pretty much the whole grade. Is that why you chose her?" He asked with a small regretful sigh though he didn't really mind working with Miho.

She was easily distracted and not as graceful as Anzu but they were good friends, and he knew he could never measure up to Marik anyways.

"At first it was," Marik said quietly, looking slightly ashamed though Ryou didn't see why. After all the two had never even talked before as far as he knew. Not that he was stalking the other boy or something.

"She's a nice girl," Marik added with a small smile that would have gone a million miles had Anzu actually been in the room.

"Yah...do you know about the guy she's gaa-gaa over?" Ryou questioned, trying to keep the jealousy out of his voice. Marik's mouth twitched a little and he was immediately mortified. Had he heard a hint of it?

"He's probably the most distracting thing from her dancing...but I can't really complain. Attraction does that to people," He shot a sly side glance at the white haired boy who merely blinked innocently, blush only a faint pink in his cheeks now. It suited him better to have some color, Marik thought approvingly.

"I should get back to practice though," He said slouching forward off the wall nonchalantly at nearly the same moment that Ryou picked up his bag.

"Walk you to the door?" Marik said almost teasingly and laughed as Ryou stammered trying to find something to say that wouldn't sound wrong. He felt a little cruel for letting the other boy wonder if he was hitting on him when he may-or-may-not be straight but it was just a little too fun to make him blush for him to care.

He wondered if that was the way Anzu's TA felt around her. Walking out the door, he heard Ryou's footsteps following and then caught sight of Anzu waiting, watching the door curiously then hurrying to look nonchalant.

"Did you get my note, Bakura-kun?" She asked sweetly and he made a childish face at her, ignoring the tan Egyptian for a moment.

"Yes, I did," He pouted, sticking his tongue out and blushing as his gaze darted to Marik once more.

"Were we right?" She asked with a giggle at his expression.

"N-none of your business!" He stammered then hurried out the door, embarrassed once again. Marik gave her a quizzical look once he was gone.

"What was all that about?" He asked and she just laughed slyly.

"Wouldn't you love to know..."

...

"Anzu-chan I have an important announcement to make," Mutou-san well...announced as she wrapped up her homework. It would be a million years before she wanted to take science again no matter how good the tutor was. Especially on days like today when said tutor was all seriousness and acting like somebody died.

"Go for it," She said, curious despite herself.

"Our tutoring sessions need to stop," He said, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Nani? Why?" She demanded amber eyes widened with fear. No! They couldn't stop now! Things were starting to go so well –

"Just for about a week," He continued, giving her a quizzical look and she felt a little ridiculous for over reacting now.

"Oh," She said weakly with a small laugh at her own reaction.

"Can you tell me why?" She questioned with a small frown, feeling her heart fall all the same. A week with no after school visits...sure they weren't exactly fun and the science was more often than not painful but on the rare occasion that she got something right without his help, the way he always seemed proud of her efforts made it worth it.

And those kisses from before still weighed heavily on her mind, he hadn't made another motion but it was too soon to give up hope just yet.

"You know Yuugi's family shop right?" He asked and she couldn't resist rolling her eyes a little. Obviously she knew about the shop.

"Jii-chan's shop! What does that have to do with making you too busy to be, um, I mean to tutor me?" She almost said to be with me and quickly avoided his gaze, crossing her fingers that he somehow overlooked the stumble.

"They're renovating right now and they need as much extra help as they can get. Normally it wouldn't be such a big deal but with a new shipment coming in as well...and Jii-chan's just not up to it anymore," He said with a sigh, running a hand through his hair stressfully.

The stress surprised her but she also secretly thought it was a little cute that he still cared so much about the family that had sort of adopted him.

"Well it's really nice of you to help them and I'm sure I can survive a week on my own," She replied with a genuine smile, burying her disappointment. That would just be utterly selfish to criticize him for helping his old grandfather and rather small in stature 'cousin'.

There was a pause for a moment and suspecting that he didn't want to be rude and leave before she did she started to walk towards the door, a friendly goodbye on her lips but he stopped her, grabbing hold of her wrist. She froze and turned back to face him, heart hammering even though he quickly removed his grip.

"I...will miss spending time with you...Anzu-chan," He said slowly, glancing at her only in quick spurts as though in guilt over saying the words. She repressed a giggle at the adorable expression and just smiled benignly.

"I'll miss you to, Mutou-san. What better tutor could a girl ask for?" She meant it to be teasing but his smile seemed slightly relieved.

Stepping closer he said, "I hope to see you soon," then brushed his lips against her cheek ever so gently in a soft kiss. It was such a sweet gesture that she was fairly certain she melted into a puddle as he said a final goodbye and walked out the door.

"Bye," She said back and she suspected it came out a little dreamily because his lips quirked into a small smirk before he disappeared completely. She couldn't help being a little confused over his words though.

I hope to see you soon? Just because they weren't meeting after school didn't mean they wouldn't see each other, after all, there was always class.

Right?

A/N: No tutuoring for a week...no! Well, really it should be 'YES!' but you'll see why soon enough ;) Come on Marik, you can see Bakura wants you! Ugh, aren't boys stupid sometimes xD Note: In the narrative parts I started the chapter calling Ryou by 'Bakura' but after Marik called him Ryou for the first time I switched to using 'Ryou' in the narrative. That was just to symbolize the change in their relationship, and because Ryou thinks of himself as Ryou and Marik thinks of him as Ryou so it doesn't make sense to call him 'Bakura'. Hope that wasn't too confusing for anyone!

Here's a preview for the next chapter:

"Are you alright Marik-kun?" She asked angelically and he glared a bit at her.

"I'm not sure either if it's wide spread knowledge...I didn't know," He said slowly, staring at the mirror though not as though he were looking at his reflection and she felt confused.

"You mean you didn't know he was gay?" She questioned, feeling her head spin.

No duh, Marik. It's so obvious! (At least the authoress hopes it's obvious...)