A/N: I like the format of this chapter with the flashback in the middle because it allows me to use dramatic irony, since the two characters talking don't know what actually happens in the flashback...hey, cut me a break, I'm an English geek! Also, during the flashback Ryou is referred to as 'Bakura' because the flashback is from Yuugi's point of view essentially and he calls Ryou 'Bakura'. Just to make that clear for those of you who are confused as to why I go back to calling him Ryou after the flashback is over.

Disclaimer: Not Mine!

"Feel better?" Yami muttered in her ear and she felt her heart beat a little faster at his tone.

"Maybe a little," she admitted, dragging herself out of the water wearily. He said he'd argue with her for as long as she could tread water for, but he wasn't going to carry it back to the group with them. She agreed and admitted her irrational irritation over the idea of him being with 'other girls'.

He didn't seem to understand her fear at all since he assured her that she was the only one he wanted but she tried her best to explain how the mere idea of him having been with other girls in the past made her jealous.

He told her very seriously not to think about the past, and assured her that since separating bodies with Yuugi he had been on very few dates and never slept with anyone 'in this body' as he put it. It did reassure her in a strange way and she asked him for forgiveness since she knew that she had overreacted.

He refused, saying that he had nothing to forgive. His whispered comment about all relationships having misgivings between lovers kept buzzing pleasantly in her thoughts. The words 'relationship' and 'lovers' in context with the two of them made her feel like she could fly.

"I'm glad," he said simply, indicating that he didn't like arguing with her. When he surfaced from the water she checked him out as subtly as she could while resisting the urge to stare. In only simple black bathing suit shorts his well built chest had no shirt to hide behind anymore.

Was she drooling? She certainly felt like it as he shook the water out of his gravity and water defying hair.

"Are you going to change?" he asked in a slightly amused tone as he stepped out of the water to retrieve his shirts from the dock and she flushed darkly.

"Not yet," she replied a little too quickly as she looked away, knowing he had definitely noticed her staring.

"Shame," he said quietly and she wondered if she had imagined it but when she turned to glare at him his lips were quirked up in a smirk. He meant for her to hear that!

"Yami!" she gasped, hands moving to her hips but he just looked innocently towards the house.

"Is that Yuugi?" he asked and she glanced away warily but the small boys figure was indeed darting away from the cottage home quickly as though avoiding something.

"I wonder what that's about?" she asked aloud and Yami just shrugged, padding back across the dock.

"Probably found Rebecca's Yuugi collection again...

*Flashback (two minutes ago)*

Yuugi walked through the hallway towards the closet, watching carefully for any him-shaped toys. Part of him hoped Rebecca would grow out of her obsession phase –part of her had started to grow on him. Sure she was overpowering and pushy but he had gotten used to it, and he felt horrible when she cried, even if he knew they were fake tears.

Once last summer when they had been visiting though, she had twisted her ankle badly on the rocks when they were out 'playing' together and she tried so hard not to cry that when she finally did he knew they were real tears.

He ended up carrying her back even with her clinging to him like a koala though they were nearly the same height. He wasn't as strong as someone like Yami who could have carried her easily in his arms but he was determined and she had been extremely thankful to him afterwards.

It was after that happened that these mushy feelings started to get worse inside of him. Did he have a crush on her? He never would have believed it was possible up until last summer, but even now he didn't mind when she had cried against him earlier and they had fun down by the water despite his best efforts to get out of it.

Grabbing a couple towels out of the closet he had to strain up on his tip toes for the last one and when he was doing so he heard the sound of a scuffle coming from the kitchen. Who else could be in here? He thought everyone was down by the beach; even Jii-chan had come down!

Wait, Bakura did say awhile back that he was going to get drinks but why would he still be here? Maybe he was having troubles carrying them all, Yuugi reasoned. Putting a towel around his own small shoulders and tucking the others under his arm he walked into the kitchen, Bakura's name dying on his lips as he stumbled upon a very awkward scene indeed.

Bakura had the drinks out on the counter all right but he definitely wasn't focused on them as the taller far more antisocial blond Yuugi recognized as his 'friend' Marik had him pinned aggressively against the refrigerator, fairly wrapped around him as they kissed.

It was beginning to grow rather passionate when Yuugi gave a squeak of alarm. Maybe someone like Jounouchi might have suspected Bakura of being gay and of this 'friend' of his to be more than just a friend but not Yuugi, not in a million years!

Marik quickly pulled back and they both turned to see Yuugi's red face staring at them in embarrassment. Marik didn't say not a word, not sure if there was anything you could say after being caught making out with your boyfriend in someone else's kitchen.

"Y-Yuugi!" Bakura tried anyways and Marik rolled his lavender eyes.

"Go on, I'll see you down by the beach," he said shortly, then kissed him again on the lips before walking right out the door as though he couldn't be bothered to talk to the smaller boy.

Bakura stared after him disbelievingly, a dazed mixture of shock, hurt and embarrassment covering his pale face with two bright red spots on his cheeks.

"I'm sorry you walked in on that," he finally said miserably to Yuugi once he found his tongue.

"O-oh, it's okay, I don't have a problem with...stuff like that," Yuugi said quickly, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"That's good," Bakura said faintly, an expression akin to pain blocking out the weak smile he attempted.

"Hey Bakura?" Yuugi asked hesitantly after a long silence.

"Mhm?" he asked, raising his head as he ran his hand through his long white locks like he didn't know what else to do. Obviously Yuugi walking on them kissing wasn't the first thing on his mind.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but...does he normally walk out like that after he kisses you?" Yuugi asked innocently the way only someone like him could. From anyone else it would be awkward, but he had been perfectly honest when he said he didn't have a problem with it. Mutou Yuugi was not a liar.

"No...Yes...I don't know. I can't seem to figure him out sometimes," Bakura admitted with a small sigh. "Things are perfect when we're alone, he's kind of physical but it works, you know?" he said with a small flush, glancing at Yuugi shyly.

"He can also be a real sweetheart even though he pretends not to care at all, but he just doesn't want to get hurt. I really like him yet when we're in public...it's like he puts up a barrier around himself," he said hopelessly, pain in his puppy dog eyes. Yuugi listened thoughtfully then smiled a little.

"I wouldn't worry," he said in a confidently cheerful voice. Bakura looked even more hurt and confused.

"Marik-kun sounds a lot like my cousin. Yami can be blunt and people think he doesn't care, but he really does. Some people just aren't good at being social. I bet Marik-kun was just embarrassed 'cause I saw you guys making out. Maybe he's just not good at dealing with that sort of thing. I mean look at Anzu and Yami, they're going out and it's pretty obvious but he's always so quiet about it like he's afraid to even bring it up," Yuugi said radiating confidence.

Bakura slowly became infected as his words sunk in.

"You're right, he barely knows you guys, I mean, I'm embarrassed and I've known you for a long time," he said with a big smile and a laugh that Yuugi was grateful to see.

"Come on Bakura; let's go back down to the beach!" Once they got outside they saw Marik leaning against the porch, holding the door open casually.

"You think I'm a 'real sweetheart'?" he asked dryly, turning his head to look at Bakura who looked mortified that the blond had sneakily stuck around to overhear the conversation. Marik's eyes flickered to Yuugi and gave him an uncertain nod. Eyes widening Yuugi nodded back, backing off quickly.

"I'm gonna um, go check on Rebecca!" he blurted then stumbled away under Marik's approving gaze. It was clear the two needed some time alone.

*Present*

They watched as Yuugi hurried down the hill away from the porch which was blocked by spruce and maple trees.

"Yah it's probably her collection," Anzu agreed at the frightened expression on his face when he got closer and they both laughed.

"Yo love birds, let's play!" Jounouchi called as he and Honda struggled to set up the water volley ball net.

"I better help him before he makes a scene," Yami grumbled but Anzu was pretty sure he liked the straight up slightly crude boy better then he'd admit.

"Probably," she agreed, and he waded off into the knee deep water where Honda was getting soaked trying to place the net properly. Anzu giggled as she watched him impatiently dealing with the other two boys, instructing them with big hand gestures while they continued to fumble and not follow them properly.

"They seem to be getting along," Miho's voice came from her left and she turned to see the purple haired girl looking wistfully at Honda.

"Maybe we'll both get a boyfriend out of this, huh Miho-chan?" she teased her friend while hip checking her gently.

"Nani? Who would I date?" Miho asked innocently and Anzu rolled her eyes.

"You like Honda-kun right? If he asked you out he could be your boyfriend," she said patiently and the other girl's face coloured a little.

"I would like that," was all she said though in a very quiet admittance. Their conversation was interrupted by Jounouchi whistling to get their attention. Yami had managed to get them to set it up correctly and it was now more or less standing straight.

"Come on everyone!" he bellowed loud enough to get Ryou to hurry up as he picked his way along the path with great trepidation. Marik was already waiting at the bottom looking amused by his fear of walking in bare feet outside.

"Alright, team captains are me and Yami, anyone gotta problem with that?" he demanded, fixing them all with a competitive glare.

"Good. Miho, Rebecca, Anzu and Yuugi are on his team and Marik, Bakura, me and Honda are on this side!" he announced.

"That's not fair!" Rebecca immediately cried out without shame.

"Jou!" Honda groaned.

"Well I put the brat on Yuugi's team, I thought it would keep her quiet," he mumbled, scratching his head in confusion.

"What did you call me?" She hissed like a deadly animal on the other side of the net. Yuugi looked at her nervously, patting her back awkwardly. She relaxed a little as he turned to give Jounouchi a troubled look.

"Jounouchi-kun, that wasn't very nice. And the teams are a little uneven," he said in a calmer tone than his 'girlfriend' gesturing at the two of them being considerably shorter than everyone else.

"What're you talkin' about Yuug? You've got all the girls!" Jounouchi replied with an exaggerated shrug as though that were supposed to be a good thing.

"But that means" –Yuugi started only to be interrupted by Anzu's death glare.

"Don't you dare," she warned in a deadly voice.

"Yah, what's that supposed to mean Yuugi-kun?" Miho demanded, hands on her hips in the deadly 'ass kicking' position.

"U-um, but then you don't have any," he replied to Jounouchi in a shaky voice, violet eyes wide with fear for his life.

"We'll probably lose but that's alright," Jounouchi responded gleefully, seeing that Yuugi and Anzu had both walked right into his trap.

"I think we all know the teams are uneven Jounouchi," Ryou said with a small sigh and Jounouchi glared.

"Come on, you're on my team, why are you complaining?" he asked in exasperation.

"I'll pick the teams," Marik finally announced loudly, stepping forward. Everyone fell silent as the most antisocial of the group offered a solution.

"The only people here I really know are Ryou and Anzu, so my choices won't be biased. Nobody complains with my choices, clear?" he snapped and everyone nodded hesitantly, Anzu the quickest of all, comforted by his take-charge attitude.

Yami's mouth tightened but he made no verbal objection since mostly it was his old jealousy rearing its ugly head. He had never liked how close she and Marik were, even if it was unreasonable to think so. It was part of why he could understand her own jealousy a little.

Collecting everyone to one side of the net he prowled up and down the line with a critical eye. Several people including Miho and Yuugi looked nervous at his strict assessment.

"To start off, Mutou-san on this side and Katsuya-san on that one," he said allowing the 'captains' to return to their respective sides. Jounouchi went without comment, but he was still glowering a little.

"You; jump," he ordered Miho who indeed jumped, more out of surprise than anything else. Bakura steadied his dance partner automatically when she landed.

"You to," he said pointing to Honda, who also jumped as high as he could, gaining moderate height.

"Alright you," he said with a nod to Honda, "On Mutou-san's team, and Nosaka-chan on the other's."

"The 'others' has a name you know!" Jounouchi raged as he received someone he clearly perceived a 'weak' player.

"Jump," he repeated, moving on to Rebecca who looked at him scornfully but followed his request, quickly put on Yami's team. He repeated the process on Yuugi who was foolish enough to hesitate.

"I said jump," he repeated impatiently.

"Why" –

"Just do it Yuugi," Anzu encouraged and he nodded glumly before giving a half hearted jump and being put on Jounouchi's team. He didn't like being judged off his physical ability and Anzu felt badly for him, but also knew that Marik wouldn't apologize even if asked to.

He'd just say that no one had objected when he put himself in charge so they shouldn't be objecting to how he made his decisions now.

"Ryou?" he asked the most politely he had so far and the white haired boy gave a humble hop before happily crossing to Yami's side. The last person to be judged was Anzu and when he gave her the nod to go ahead she gave him 'a look'.

"Marik you've seen me jump a million times before," she complained.

"As a dancer, not a volleyball player," He insisted and so she bent her knees and sprung upwards over a foot in the air before landing gracefully.

"Show off," Honda grumbled as Marik put her on Jounouchi's team and followed her over. Nobody made any complaints aloud which was probably smart. The game start was set with the teams as following:

Team one, Yami, Honda, Rebecca and Ryou.

Team two, Jounouchi, Miho, Yuugi, Anzu and Marik.

As they went to start Anzu hopped up on the beach for a moment to remove her shorts, revealing a pair of red bikini bottoms but she didn't take off her soaked skin tight t-shirt, returning to the water instead.

"Aren't you gonna take that off?" Jounouchi asked and she gave him a withering look.

"No I am not, you pervert," she replied testily. Yami frowned a little across the net as the boy made a couple lame jokes, trying to get back in her good books but quickly gave up as she clearly didn't want to talk about bathing suits or why she wouldn't take off her shirt.

He resolved to ask about it some other time when they had more privacy.

A/N: Is the foreshadowing too obvious? Well, it's meant to be. Sorry all you revolutionshipping crazy people, I had to give Marik and Ryou some moments together. I love those two too much to let them go unnoticed! Not to mention the next couple chapters are going to be revolutionshipping-cenric!

ALSO...I only got about two reviews for the last chapter...I don't want to sound like a whiny authoress who is ungrateful, I fully appreciated both reviews, but I am curious as to why they seem to have dissapeared recently. Please remember even if you're not currently reviewing because you're not enjoying it you can always tell me politely WHY you're not enjoying it! (Unless its about the yaoi...because that's not going to change...sorry if it bothers you!)

Here's a preview for the next chapter:

Yami felt a sense of gratitude for all these people subtly helping them nurture their fragile relationship that hung in a slim balance. They paddled quietly along, sometimes side by side or accidentally drifting but after a couple stalls and almost-flips on Anzu's part when a large dragon fly landed on her boat they managed to make it to the beautiful lagoon area Rebecca had described.

It was just a small inlet where the land curved in with no cottages around, only a small strip of sandy beach surrounded by rocks and then sparse trees leading to thicker forest areas. Pulling up onto the beach was a bit of a mission especially with the reed swamped waters, but he managed first then helped her up.

Okay that's kind of a vague excerpt...but basically what I'm trying to say is: It's date time! And things get serious in every way.