A/N: Ah, a much lighter chapter, no more of that deep angst and blah, blah, blah depressing stuff! Although it may come back later, we're back to sunshine and not-so-subtle flirtation for now!
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: Anzu wears a bathing suit once in Season 0, and this is pretty much the reaction everyone has to seeing her. Just thought I'd shed some light on my inspiration for the chapter!
Disclaimer: Not Mine!
"Come on, you look great," he told her eagerly, resembling Yuugi so much for a moment that she had to laugh. He led her slowly down the path as he walked backwards, keeping their hands laced together comfortingly, trying to calm her nerves.
Her stomach was a bundle of excitement and fearful anticipation for how people would react when they reached the beach. She was clad only in her red two piece bathing suit, with its traditional bottoms and a red halter top that tied in the middle, revealing eye catching cleavage.
"I'm sorry, did I say great? I meant irresistibly sexy," he said flirtatiously in a conspiratorial voice as he leaned closer. She giggled, cheeks flushing so hard they matched her bathing suit. Releasing one hand he raised it above her head and gave her a spin so suddenly she was in front and he could circle around behind, one hand curling around her waist suggestively.
"I'm going to have to watch you around those other guys, I think even Ryou might have something to say about you," he growled in her ear and she swatted at him with embarrassment though he jumped out of the way with a grin that held just enough mischief and canine to be extremely cute.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop," he promised with a laugh, moving back to her side and tugged her close to his hip so they nudged each other with each step. She buried her face in the tight cotton fabric of his black muscle shirt, able to smell the leather of his slight punk collar that he told her Yuugi had given him as a gift when they separated, her arms slung around his neck.
"You're not too bad yourself," she flirted back and his grin just grew as she stroked his ego. "That doesn't mean you should go getting a big head," she continued warningly as they crested the small hill that slowly began to change to sand as they approached the beach where everyone else were already set up in a variety of different activities.
"How can I not get a big head when I've got a beautiful woman like you wrapped around me?" He teased and she rolled her eyes, blushing hopelessly over his flirting before pulling her arms away from him, though he didn't release her waist as their feet hit sandy beach, attracting stares from their friends.
"Yo, Anzu, Yami, took you long enough," Jounouchi called with a big grin as though seeing Mutou-san with his arm around Anzu's waist while she wore a bikini was no big deal.
"Women take forever to change," Yami stated blandly with a small smirk around his lips as she glared at him. The reason it took so long was because he had to drown her in flattery just to get her down to the beach.
"Would you rather I told the whole truth?" He muttered in her ear as the blond made his way over, leaving Honda alone to hold up the pile of sticks they were throwing together for the evening fire.
"The whole truth?" She responded dangerously.
"Well you did take a long time to change," he responded playfully.
"Jerk!" She exclaimed just as Jounouchi appeared in front of them.
"Wow, Anzu, I never knew you had such a sexy dynamite body," he commented, jaw dropping a little. She started to stammer something in response but Yami stiffened, turning his head to give the most terrifying glare she had seen in years from him –or anyone else for that matter.
Jounouchi immediately blanched, taking a step back.
"I get it, she's yours," he squeaked in a very not-Jounouchi-like voice. The older man, and possibly only man there, smiled, but the dangerous glint stayed in his crimson eyes like poisonous daggers.
"Just so we're clear," was all he said pleasantly, guiding Anzu away with his hand still hooked over her hip possessively. Honda laughed from where he was still holding up the mountain of sticks hopelessly but when Yami turned his head towards him he quickly sucked up his laughter.
"Don't worry, I won't screw with your girl," Honda called good naturedly over his shoulder as his eyes were drawn to Miho in her skimpy yellow bikini, squealing as the water splashed over her. Letting the sticks collapse behind him absentmindedly he left towards her and Yami chuckled quietly.
"I knew I liked being a teacher for a reason," he said and she scoffed.
"I don't think it's because you're their teacher. You can be pretty scary when you want to be," she responded and he frowned slightly.
"Why do you and Yuugi always say that?" He grumbled, almost walking right into Yuugi and Rebecca.
"What about –wow," Yuugi started to say, cutting himself off as his eyes widened, checking Anzu out openly. It wasn't so much that she was so much more beautiful than other girls, but she had a perfect body from dance, and none of her male friends had ever seen her in such revealing clothes for a reason.
Mortified by his reaction, she buried her face in Yami's shoulder to hide her traffic stopping blush and the shame on her face, slinging her arms around his neck tightly.
"Um, sorry Anzu," Yuugi apologized as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly while Rebecca's hands went to her hips with a furious glare.
"What about me?" She asked scathingly.
"I told you Rebecca, you have nothing to worry about from Anzu-chan, she clearly likes me better," Yami assured the younger girl with a smirk. Anzu raised a hand to thump his chest irritably as he wrapped his arms around her waist anyways.
"Do I need to throw you back in the water?" He asked mock sternly and she raised her head to roll her eyes at him.
"No, but I wouldn't mind if you threw yourself in," she replied sarcastically, hitting him again.
"Ouch, low blow," he said with a wince and she giggled.
"Oh did I wound your ego?" She flirted, pulling herself closer. Both Rebecca and Yuugi looked awkwardly on, trying to ignore them as Yami replied in a suggestively sultry voice before leaning in to kiss her, pulling out all the stops.
Before they could disturb the two more innocent members of the group any more a voice cut through their romancing like a javelin.
"You know, most people consider it rude to make out in public," Marik said sarcastically from where he lay out on a lawn chair bare-chested in simple white swim trunks. Anzu looked surprised to see him so relaxed as Yami pulled away regrettably and he shot them a small smile.
"Since when did you relax?" She asked incredulously as he sat up and gave a small stretch. She had to admit he looked pretty fine in only white shorts that fairly glowed against his dark skin in the sun, not to mention the defined lines of his chest.
"Since it was sunny out," he replied more cheerfully than she had ever heard him when he wasn't with Ryou.
"What? I'm Egyptian, I like the sun," he defended as she continued to look disbelieving.
"Hm, is there a way to bring sunshine back? It might make you less grumpy during practice," she teased as he stood up and walked over with an almost mischievous look on his face.
"You think anything in the world would make me go easier on you? We're the best dance partners for a reason," he said mock sternly before pulling her right out of Yami's arms to spin her around easily the way he had a million times in practice.
She seemed surprised but unlike if anyone else had done it, she was just as used to being touched by Marik as she was to Yami's embrace. Yami himself stiffened irritably as his 'secret' lover was taken right out of his arms by the suspiciously flirtatious other man.
He forced himself not to say anything, letting them dance jokingly, a section straight out of their jazz selection, but when she actually jumped into his arms, legs wrapped around his hips, then allowed him to put his hands around her waist and lift her straightened body up into the air above his head, it was too much for him.
Someone else seemed to agree as two snow white hands slid up Marik's abs almost provocatively from behind, coming to rest on his pectorals where they held on firmly. He froze with surprise but his trained arms didn't drop Anzu, instead putting her down slowly while Ryou glared over his shoulder on his tip toes at Anzu who looked back sheepishly.
"That's enough," he said, putting his foot down firmly for possibly the first time in his life and Yami was immediately at her side, reclaiming her from Marik.
"Agreed," he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind as though afraid she would return to the blond dancer if he let go. They stood there in silence for a moment, each respective partner glaring at their 'competition' fiercely.
"I never knew you were the jealous type Ryou," Marik commented dryly as the white haired boy behind him pressed tightly to his muscled back. Normally he'd complain about such an interruption in his dance but the feeling of Ryou's bare chest against his skin felt too good to raise an alarm.
"I thought I was jealous yesterday," Anzu added to Marik's efforts of defusing the situation. She turned first tugging on Yami's crimped blond bangs with one hand playfully. "And you gave me a hard time?" She teased and he rolled his eyes.
"It's not my fault if you dance like that with him every day while we can only be together when we leave the city," he pouted and she kissed it away soothingly.
"At least we have today right?" She replied softly and he offered a small smile in return though worry flashed in his eyes as he looked around.
Luckily for them, the impromptu ending to Marik and Anzu's dance did them some other good. Ryou staking his claim on Marik had earned some very clear raised eyebrows from Honda and Jounouchi though Yuugi was grinning secretively, while Miho squealed over how cute they were delightedly.
It took the heat off of Anzu and Yami at least, although people had at the very least suspected them of being an item yesterday. Marik and Ryou were let off easy with Miho's blessings as it stopped Honda from being judgmental, and even though Jounouchi looked a little uncomfortable with the situation he didn't say anything.
Rebecca couldn't have cared less about the other couples, especially since she had Yuugi on his knees swearing she was more beautiful than any other girl after his little staring stunt with Anzu. She then proclaimed that she wanted to build a sand castle and Yuugi and Jounouchi both agreed enthusiastically, albeit childishly.
"You know Yuugi, your cousins nothing like I thought he would be," Jounouchi commented from where they had began digging out a moat, eyeing the man now rubbing sunscreen on his girlfriend's back while she tied her hair up in a ponytail.
"What do you mean?" Yuugi asked innocently, glancing over at him as well, obviously seeing nothing he didn't expect to.
"Well for one thing he wears like leather and shit, it's kinda strange on a teacher, plus he's actually sorta a cool guy you know? Like he don't give a damn what anyone says or does. Not to mention he's totally in love with Anzu, he was hittin' on her yesterday and today they're like, joined at the hip or somethin'," he said in an almost nice way as he watched the two flirting.
It was a lot more than they were used to but they both knew it was the last time they'd be able to for at least a month, a depressing thought that weighed on the back of both of their minds heavily.
"I told you he's a good guy," Yuugi said with a small smile.
Meanwhile Marik was soaking in the sun again, loving the familiar caress against his skin. He had missed that feeling. He rarely had time for such things when he was at home between dance and work. His family needed all the money they could get.
"Marik, what's it like be, um, flexible?" Ryou asked suddenly as the Egyptian opened his eyes warily, giving his boyfriend a suspicious look.
"Does this have to do with what happened with Anzu before? You know we're just dance partners," he said slowly, eyeing his partner lazily under a hand that shielded his retinas from the UV rays glaring down on them.
Ryou was sweating and he noticed for the first time that his voluminous white locks were tide back in a loose ponytail at the base of his neck, making it look like he had short wild hair. It was cute but he liked his longer hair better, even if some people would consider it feminine.
"No," he denied quickly and then flushed at the blunt stare he received. "Yes," he admitted with a sigh. "It sucks knowing I have twice the competition," he grumbled bitterly, wrapping one arm around his knees as he sat up, the other had burying in the sand mindlessly.
Marik surprised him by laughing quietly at what he said. Rolling onto his side, he propped himself up on one elbow as he gave his partner a casual once-over. Ryou shivered at the look and at the way Marik looked like a gorgeous male model when he stretched out like that.
He was muscled and slim from dance, with a perfect skin tone and perfect hair and perfect eyes...his perfection made Ryou feel breathless as well as self-conscious.
"Twice the competition? Hardly. I picked you as my lover, you have no competition until you get tired of me, Ryou," he assured him in a low tone, lavender eyes shining under the sunlight. Ryou sucked in a quick breath, feeling extremely un-extraordinary despite his words.
"Why would you pick me?" He asked softly, looking down at himself with a lack of confidence that bothered Marik. Suddenly Ryou found himself flat on his back as Marik pushed him down on the sand firmly, one hand covering a large portion of the smaller boy's chest.
He smirked a little, feeling his heart burst into a sprint beneath his palm.
"Because you're adorable and you don't even know it," he whispered and Ryou blushed, squirming slightly. Marik's eyes seemed to light up, he also liked the challenge Ryou put up. He wasn't like the easy guys who would come over and hit on him when he went to a bar.
"Marik" –Ryou started, obviously uncomfortable by the way he did nothing to cover the way he was touching his boyfriend but Marik interrupted, not removing his hand.
"Do you remember when we went out to that bar together last week?" He pressed, forcing Ryou to remember as he stopped squirming so much.
"Yah and you punched some guy over nothing," he pointed out while Marik smiled rather fondly at the memory.
"That's exactly what I mean. He had his hand on your thigh and he was hitting on you left right and centre, yet you call that nothing! You don't even seem to notice that girls and guys alike melt when you smile because you're so Ra-damned sweet. I can't help wanting to punch someone out when they're trying to take you from me. I want your smile all to myself," he said in a rather urgent, possessive voice, shifting over a bit so that if he leaned down he could have kissed him.
It was sorely tempting. Ryou seemed to notice as his heart beat jolted again, eyelids fluttering open and shut.
"You can have it," he said weakly, feeling his will power zapped by Marik's gorgeously determined face.
"Not if you get all jealous and stop smiling," Marik replied pointedly, staring straight down into those milk chocolate eyes that made him weak. He didn't show it but it was the only gaze he had ever found that made him want to actually give in to someone else.
He never thought he'd find such a blatant weakness after having a past like his.
"I wasn't that jealous," the teen still pinned to the sand protested.
"Admit it, you were crazy jealous," Marik teased playfully, a big change from his normal unforgiving attitude.
"No..." Ryou said guiltily, eyes hopefully wide. Marik felt himself weaken, almost not wanting to press him. Leaning down he licked at the meeker boy's lips flirtatiously. Ryou squeaked and pushed him away quickly; face absolutely scarlet to Marik's delight.
He loved making him blush, even if it wasn't hard to do.
"So you weren't crazy jealous?" He asked seductively, shifting his hands to entrap Ryou on either side of his neck, creating a cavern between their bodies as he leaned over him from where he sat by his side.
"Well...I know you like girls to..." the other mumbled, eyes half lidded as he looked up at the blond.
"That doesn't mean I" –Marik's words were cut off by a pair of full lips pressing to his. He nearly pulled back with surprise but Ryou was insistent, kissing him impatiently as he sat up.
The motion forced Marik to also sit up a little straighter but when he brought up his hands touch his smooth shoulder just barely, Ryou kicked out his legs suddenly in a perfectly constructed trap, reversing their former positions smoothly like a planned dance move.
Marik blinked in shock at the whirl of movement that broke the kiss and he found himself lying underneath Ryou who was grinning triumphantly, his sculpted abs pressed against Marik's as he pinned him down.
"Hah! Not so innocent now am I? I bet you didn't think someone smaller could flip you," he gloated gleefully. Marik grinned at the surprise move, feeling a whole new appreciation for Ryou now that his more playful side shone through.
"I certainly didn't see it coming...although I'm not sure how I feel about ending that kiss..." he hinted flirtatiously before dragging Ryou back down to him so that he could swallow the other boy's protests with powerful lips.
He may have fancy tricks, enough to flip him so he was now the underdog, but Marik was still stronger and more determined. Ryou's movements faltered quickly, giving a small moan of frustration as Marik kissed searchingly, not allowing him to pull away.
Finally he gave in with a small sigh and began kissing back shyly. All his kisses started out shy, Marik had quickly noticed, but once he got into the moment he let himself go and he had been slightly surprised, and a little bothered, to find out how good of a kisser he was.
Was it weird to be jealous of whoever taught him to kiss so well?
Marik finally broke the kiss when he felt Ryou growing urgent. They had only had a couple particularly fierce make out sessions, usually at Marik's apartment and never in public.
During their first they were interrupted by the sound of Marik's sister, Ishizu, returning and so Ryou had an impromptu introduction to her though she seemed suspicious of how flustered they both looked.
Marik respected him though, and knew that, despite losing himself in the moment, Ryou wanted to take things slow above all else. He was especially nervous about public displays of affection, which was why Marik had kept it toned down up until now.
Making out on the beach was, admittedly fun and romantic, but they were probably attracting stares.
Sitting up they both took in fresh air, though Marik simply sat still with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun once more while he waited patiently for Ryou to wear out of his slightly dazed phase. Surprisingly no one seemed to have noticed their short escapade.
"Sorry," Ryou finally whispered, dragging himself up into a half hearted sitting position.
"Sorry? Why?" Marik teased with a tiny grin before pulling him up all the way and putting a casual arm around his shoulders.
"Yo!" A voice called and they both looked over to see Jounouchi jogging back down the path, the duel monster cards he'd gone to retrieve in hand since Yami had agreed to teach him how to play better. His blond hair flew up around his head with each step.
Marik started to pull back his arm, seeing Ryou grow uncomfortable now that they had stated company but Jounouchi just shook his head, coming to a stop behind them with a small awkward smile on his face.
"Nah, you guys don't gotta be sensitive around me or whatever just cause you're like, a couple now or somethin'. I don't gotta a problem, sorry if I seemed kinda weird yesterday I was just surprised, you know? And hey, Marik, maybe I was just jealous," he teased good naturedly with a small laugh as he continued to stroll casually down towards where Yami, Anzu, Rebecca and Yuugi were waiting.
Marik looked a little taken aback by the friendly nature and informal greeting but nodded uncertainly, his usual surly, antisocial attitude kicking in. Ryou looked downright frightened though, glancing quickly between Marik and Jounouchi turned around to walk backwards, grinning now.
"Calm down, Bakura, it was a joke! I'm not into guys, I dig the chicks!" He called back at him before tripping over a rock and tumbling over to the game table with several painful grunts as the others laughed at him.
"Why does everyone think it's funny to hit on me just because I'm pretty?" Ryou grumbled, folding his arms with a small pout and Marik also laughed quietly.
"Well, you can't really blame them. You are very pretty..."
A/N: Yes Ryou, you are so pretty! I'm jealous of how pretty you are, and I'm a girl! Reviews make for a very happy authoress!
Here's a preview for the next chapter:
Giving Yami one last private smile she blew him a kiss then started to make her way back up her driveway with a small disappointed sigh. Yesterday was a dream come true and today –today was right back to reality.
He frowned, one hand still resting casually on the steering wheel. He didn't want to be blown a kiss, he wanted a real one!
More cuteness next chapter!