A/N Ambigious. Maybe some vague implied tornshipping.


Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea. ~ Henry Fielding


Ryou has never had tea with Malik since this whole thing started, but slowly it is becoming clear to him the reasons why.

Malik's questions are (horrible, degrading, amusing, exhilarating)…difficult to answer.

"And you and him?" Malik says as he eyes the millennium ring, forever bound to Ryou's neck.

"He and I have…" Ryou trails off, and watches his tea with interest.

"A rocky relationship?" Malik suggests.

Ryou frowns, "A modest agreement."

Malik snorts and his lips twist into a smirk.

"Modest? You sure like to dance around the subject. Considering him, I thought you'd at least be blunt."

"I'm nothing like him."

(Suddenly, traces of his old self. Clinching the tea cup so hard it shakes, not looking the person in their eyes…)

He snaps out of it quickly.

"Of course, we wouldn't get along if I was," Ryou feigns lightness in his voice, trying to shake of whatever just happened.

(Trying to forget that second, that flash of truth…)

Malik's eye soften and for once they look soft. Lilacs on a summer day.

Ryou looks away and waits for them to return to normal.

Eventually they do and Malik leans back in his chair and smirks. Always smirks with the two of them. Never smiles.

(Smiles are too real, smirks are just a game.)

Once, Ryou saw a flash of truth in Malik. His voice had quivered for just a second but then…

Then he just reverted back to whatever roles they are playing.

No time for honesty.

(Not here. Not in this.)

"Why did you ask for me?" Ryou asks, slowly, trying to hide his truth.

"I wanted to," Malik replies simply and breezily. Confident.

He looks at Ryou and again (always, always) Malik smirks.

"Haven't you ever wanted something?"

Ryou cradles his cup in his hands.

"Yes."

"And what is it that you want," Malik's eyes smolder and he leans in close, "Ryou Bakura?"

Ryou sips his tea.

(A small smirk spreads across his face.)


A/N Next chapter should be in time for Christmas! Also, ASL one year birthday is coming up and I want to do something special. If you have any ideas, feel free to tell me in your review!

Review, please!