Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Echo In My Mind ❯ Chapter 7

“Blah.” = Speaking out loud in Japanese.

 

-“Blah.”- = Speaking out loud in Egyptian Arabic.

 

~“Blah.”~ = Speaking out loud in English.

 

`Blah' = Song lyrics, only sung out loud if quoted as any of the above.

 

~Blah~ = Past conversations (memory).

 

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`If you're tellin' me you want me
Hold me close all through the night'

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Chaos.

 

That's what it was, nothing but noise and nonsense were filling the small apartment in a sudden rush of activity, and it was driving Bakura -fucking- crazy.

 

Dinner threatened to roll around, and with it the early entrance of a four for one deal Bakura normally wouldn't have minded as much, but today was proving to be a migraine with teeth and thorns. He was speaking of his brother, of course, his amazingly aloof younger sibling whom he loved and ushered in quickly and quite welcomingly, along with his tag-along companions of their sister and mother.

 

Oh… and that half-brained, dimwitted, moronic boyfriend of theirs had slipped in too. Although, Bakura had chosen to ignore the blond and nearly trapped him between the door and the frame when the indignant white-haired man swung it shut before the blond could walk in fully. Bakura was the only one who seemed particularly amused at that.

 

And then, of course, came the much dreaded introductions.

 

Clearing his throat with a heavy roll of his eyes, Bakura gave a short and rather empty introduction of the violet-eyed Egyptian, who immediately insisted on meeting his younger sibling and company the moment they had walked into the room. Perhaps in an effort to rid himself of the clingy Yuugi, who as amusing as he was, simply did not tempt Mariku the way the diminutive male's younger sibling did.

 

~”Oh my gosh! He's gorgeous, brother! Don't you think so, Ryou?... Amane, you really shouldn't be so lou- Oh posh! I'm not loud! Mum! Isn't he gorgeous? Look at those eyes!... Yes, dear. But do mind your manners and keep your voice down… Nyah! I'm not like Ryou, you know!”~

 

Whether or not Mariku was perplexed by the one-sided conversation didn't show on the Egyptian's face, instead he merely blinked to the multi-toned voice as the younger male before him babble away in the foreign language while switching between fawning over Mariku, shyly pulling away, and scrutinizing him for Re knows what. Throughout it though, Mariku eventually became accustomed to the strange conversation and even welcomingly draped an arm over Ryou's shoulders, grinning all the while at the odd younger man.

 

Seeing that the blond was enjoying the attention more than he should, Bakura growled in the back of his throat and tugged his brother away from the Egyptian before Mariku started to fawn over the paler's younger sibling. “Oi, get the fuck off of him, Amane. You don't know where he's been- Ow!” Bakura glowered at his brother while rubbing his own head, before recognizing the slow raise of the brow that marked his mother's presence and mentally groaning. Immediately apologizing for the cursing he'd done, Bakura reminded his brother to speak Japanese and stepped out of the suddenly crowded living room as quickly as he could with an exasperated sigh.

 

He wasn't quite up to listening to his sister gush over Mariku because a part of Bakura was jealous he couldn't do the same. How easy it was for everyone to swoon and make blatant shows of their fleeting attraction to the Egyptian, and while the pale man certainly wasn't the type to do such, it annoyed him endlessly that he couldn't even imagine partaking in the display, left instead to be the odd man out. Besides, his attraction to the ass wasn't fleeting, and this disturbed him more than anything else.

 

“Are you alright, Kura?”

 

At the soft voice the pale man relaxed slightly and groaned while leaning over the counter he had reached blindly, forehead dropping to the cold surface as he shook his head. Purrs rumbled in the back of his throat when small, skilled fingers stroked through the spiked mess of white hair, Bakura losing himself to the gentle touch while ignoring the chuckles that sprinkled around him. “…They love him.”

 

“Is that really such a bad thing?” Yami smiled to his boyfriend's quiet whine, swatting at a spike or two with a giggle when Bakura nodded. “Oh stop it, would you rather they be arguing?” At the hesitant shake of the other's head the boy chuckled and nodded, kissing Bakura's chilled forehead when the man peeked up again. “Thought so. Now, help my brother set the table and I'll bring them on over. Dinner's ready.”

 

“You're going to have to make this up to me, you know.”

 

“What?”

 

Smirking suddenly at the bemused blink of eyes he received, Bakura nodded while straightening and smoothing over his shirt and hair. Perhaps he wasn't as disgruntled as he appeared, and while he was certain Yami could see through his ruse, there was no real need for Bakura to drop it, especially if things could turn over to his advantage. “You heard me.”

 

“Yes, I did. But why-”

 

“You know very well how I feel about people crowding up my personal space-”

 

“They're family!”

 

“Let me finish, YamYam.” Bakura smirked just a tad wider now, watching the boy hover between walking away to gather guests and staying just to listen to his lover's rambling. “Family or not, you also took it upon yourself to invite that bastard to sleep over for an indefinite amount of time, and don't think for a second I don't know why you -really- invited my brother over.” At that Yami seemed to pale lightly, lower lip worried between his teeth as he squeaked under his breath nervously. Certainly Bakura couldn't know he had really wanted to speak to Ryou's boyfriend for poly-amorous advice? No, that couldn't be it; the pale man would never allow it! Unless…

 

“…Really?”

 

“Of course.” Watching the boy fidget terribly, Bakura merely smiled and turned so he could lean backwards on the countertop, hair brushing and splaying across the freshly cleaned surface, which made the younger of the two scowl despite the snag of worry. “You just want Amane to rant and piss me off about her fantasy baby all night when she remembers she's `pregnant'.”

 

Blinking very slowly for a moment, Yami fully interpreted what it was his boyfriend had said before grinning in triumph and secret glee. Ah, so Bakura really didn't know. Good, very good. But he would give his lover points for reminding him of that, and so Yami pulled off the best `oh-you-caught-me' pout before giggling and wrapping his arms around Bakura's neck. “Aw, and here I thought I could trick you. But out of curiosity, why haven't you gone all freaky about your younger siblings being, um, deflowered… and bitten off a head as revenge?”

 

“Deflowered?” Bakura laughed at his boyfriend's delicate way of describing the situation, smirking at the blush that covered the younger's cheeks before letting Yami off, for now at least. “Because it's all about timing, baby. That and I intend to saw off the fucker's head rather than, as you suggested, bite it off… Including the bothersome one in his pants, just to drive home the message.” A flashy grin and Yami suddenly didn't know whether or not it would be sane to set his lover loose for the night, but Bakura eased away the menacing curl at his lips to allow a chuckle to spill free, waving at the boy to go on.

 

Giggling despite the threat he just heard issued for Ryou's boyfriend, Yami withdrew his arms and placed a kiss above a pale brow. “Just don't stain anything during the massacre then, because I'm certainly not going to clean up the bloody mess.”

 

“Why, YamYam, you're starting to sound like a true Englishman.”

 

“Oh shut it and help Yuugi. Though I think he's done with all the time wasted, which I know you just did on purpose.” Sticking his tongue out at the man's smirk, Yami slipped free from the kitchen to gather the others, chirping happily as he exchanged welcomes and was led toward the table with a certain violet-eyed man's arm slung comfortably around his shoulder. He even missed the glare Bakura shot at Mariku for the contact, Yami too caught up in the warm and fuzzy feelings battering his tummy apart to care that his boyfriend was having a silent and very jealous fit. The only question would have been who Bakura was jealous of; Mariku for touching his lover, or Yami for receiving such attention from the maddeningly sexy blond.

 

Details could always be sorted out later, but the amused gazes the three were unknowingly being watched by were very certain they knew it was a healthy mix of both reasons.

 

The dinner itself was actually enjoyable despite the initial seating arrangement, which left Bakura grumbling well into the meal. In fact, he seemed to be the only one who even noticed a flaw. Three per side of the table, Mariku was sandwiched between his newly acquired admirers on one half of the table. Yuugi and Ryou made sure to flirtatiously spend their time with the gorgeous Egyptian. Bakura was on the opposite side between his lover and the other blond, who happened to be Ryou's fidgety boyfriend and seemed distinctly uncomfortable sitting beside the glowering pale man welding a steak knife. At some point Yuugi and Yami began to talk between themselves as they were right across from one another, as well as Ryou and his increasingly nervous boyfriend, leaving Bakura to avoid eye contact with the Egyptian smack dab in front of him for as long as he could.

 

And what a difficult task it was! Since when had eating a salad become such an arousing sight? Because Mariku was sure as hell making an orgasmic display with every unsuspecting vegetable he speared with his fork, and without once even looking up at Bakura. Now that was talent, ensnaring his victim with so much certainty that he didn't even bother to smirk or silently tease the pale man fallen victim to his sinful skill. One by one each portion of the Egyptian's meal was devoured, and Gods was it hard to blink when Mariku started on the meat. Just a sliver at a time, he would lift the morsel to his mouth, and rather than clasp his lips around it, the blonde's tongue would come out and curl at the prongs, coaxing the slice off the fork and into his mouth, a feral swipe of a tongue over his lips catching any moisture that may have slipped free.

 

Each and every bite was calculated and presented just like that, and oh the things Bakura could imagine that tongue weaving around besides that damnably lucky fork.

 

~“Akeifa!”~

 

Violently jerking in his seat, the white-haired male blinked about in surprise before realizing the others were peering at him curiously, well, except for Mariku, who looked overly pleased with himself as he laved his tongue flatly over the curve of his fork before setting it down on the cleared plate.

 

Bastard.

 

“What?” Bakura growled, stabbing at the meat on his own plate and chewing on it heatedly, a slight crinkle of his nose following as the ignored food didn't taste quite as good when cooled to such a degree.

 

How long had he been staring?

 

Amane, they knew it was her by the way she huffed and twisted a lock of hair around her fingers endlessly, shook her head irritably before smiling broadly and cupping her chin, a playful sparkle behind borrowed eyes. ~“You should learn to listen better, dear brother. Then again, your new roommate really is distraction enough. Tell me, did watching him tongue-fondle his fork make your own utensil jealous? Or should I peek under the table to find out myself?”~

 

The sputter of giggles that rung in the air did not help the circumstance, Bakura tossing sharpened glares at everyone at the table, save for Mariku, who merely blinked and questioned what was so funny since he was the only one unable to comprehend the rapid and choppy English. ~“That's not funny, Amane. And don't even go there… I can't stand the asshole.”~

 

~“Which is why you choose to insult him while he has no idea what you're saying, yes? Rather than be truly rude and hurt his feelings in Japanese. How caring of you, brother.”~

 

Bakura's eyes narrowed further, but he didn't say anything, which is what caught the others' attention in surprise. He wasn't bothering to deny it? Glances were shared between Amane and Yuugi, distinctively suspicious glances since no one else knew just what it was they were silently telling each other.

 

~“'Keifa, don't make such a sour face, or it'll stick that way.”~ Soft and laced with a delicacy that she had really had when alive, the pale siblings' mother was listened to quickly, Bakura lowering his head slightly while mumbling a `Yes, Mum', although he didn't stop frowning since the riled up emotions within him were bubbling more than he could immediately control. For his mother he could at least pretend to relax, after all, within his brother or not, their mother could be one hell of a disciplinarian even if her children were grown up. ~“Now, why don't you apologize to your sister for the tone you had been using?”~ A smirk broke loose over Ryou's face, his sister smugly sticking her tongue out in triumph since having their mother on her side usually meant she could have her way, but Bakura refused and ranted about why he simply -would- not apologize because Amane -deserved- his attitude. Of course then Amane had to come out and plead with their mother about how Bakura was being mean, the elder brother retorting flippantly, and their mother finally striking the table with her palm to silence the siblings' bickering. ~“There are others in the room, and if you two can't hold your manners, then I will make you both stand in opposite corners with your arms held out until I say otherwise. Do I make myself clear?”~

 

Although held in, the tri-color haired brothers were both ready to burst into laughter when the eldest of the pale siblings flushed and nodded because he knew his mother -would- do that to him even in his own apartment, the grinning pair keeping their eyes locked on their plates to refrain from embarrassing Bakura further. It was rare when the Bakuras' mother would come out, preferring to keep beneath the surface and contemplate matters with the twins mentally, but when she did make an appearance it was usually to set Akeifa in his place, as the current example was portraying. Yami had once asked his boyfriend if perhaps their mother did it because she worried over the only child she wasn't in -constant- contact with, who just happened to be her oldest as well, so rather than bother him with continuous calls like normal mothers, she expressed her love all at once at each visit by reprimanding him over the smallest things. Bakura had quickly countered that such an excuse wasn't the case, preferring to believe his mother was biased against him because of Amane's manipulative ways, not to mention she was a girl and had been their mother's favorite because of it.

 

~“Mum, he's not apologizing. And he just kicked me!”~

 

~“I did not! Goddamn it, Amane, can't you act your age?”~

 

~“Ooh, now he's swearing. And here he had warned us that his new, blond lover had a filthy mouth. How hypocritical.”~

 

-“Darling, would you mind filling me in?”- Mariku cutting into the conversation at that moment was a good thing, mostly for Amane considering her elder brother was about ready to tear her head off, metaphorically at least since Ryou didn't deserve to be harmed in the process. Either way, the foreign language caught everyone's attention and the group focused on the Egyptians before them, expecting Yami to interpret even if the boy was blushing madly. He wasn't flustered due to the attention itself, but because he wasn't quite sure if he -should- tell Mariku the details of the English bantering. -“Darling?”-

 

-“Uh, Bakura and Amane were just arguing over the, um, her baby!”- Yami suddenly felt like smacking himself in the face, he shouldn't have said that! Although he didn't personally find his fellow Egyptian annoying, Mariku would run with this information and instigate the conversation in that direction, making matters only worse for Bakura, who for whatever reason couldn't stand anything Mariku spoke of anyway, so this particular theme would settle even less pleasantly. Then again, considering what Amane had stated, perhaps he should look into attraction being the reason the white-haired man didn't seemingly enjoy Mariku. That would be all good and dandy for Yami since he had his own desirability to the tall, dark, and handsome male to wrestle out, positively if he could guide it that way, but he wasn't about to let Bakura ruin the couples' possible newfound -or in Bakura's case, impending- friendship, especially if there was a possibility of having the trio saddle up for good.

 

Yes, dreams were marvelous things, and Yami wasn't about to let this one slip through his currently trembling fingers.

 

“Oh, is that all?” Mariku grinned and rolled a shoulder, taking a sip from his glass as he contemplated his next move. For one reason or another he didn't quite believe the boy, but who was he to accuse the youngling of lying? Especially when chances are this could lead to amusing results. “Ba-Kura, you really should mind your manners, arguing with your sister about such things isn't very kind, especially considering you had an audience.”

 

~“…YamYam, what did you tell him?”~

 

~“Oh, let's just see where he takes it, brother.”~ Amane piped in before the young Egyptian could stutter his explanation, smiling sweetly at Mariku as she leaned up against him with a flutter of lashes. “Yes, please reprimand my Nii-sama. He can be just so rude sometimes. But you know...” Her borrowed voice lowered, the sweet curve of her feminine charm dipping so she sounded as though she were sharing a dark secret, brushing with Ryou's normal pitch enough to make them wonder who exactly was pulling the strings at the moment since both twins tended to conspire together. “When ever Bakura misbehaves, he does it because he likes to be punished.”

 

“Amane…”

 

Ignoring her brother, the younger sibling simply grinned at Bakura, fingers wiggling before her as she mocked him with faux fright. “But really now, not that I was kidding, Bakura can be so overbearing. Older brothers shouldn't be so nosy or controlling! Ryou and I just can't seem to get him to back off quite as much as we'd like.”

 

“I'm sure he's just being a typical brother, my dear.” Violet eyes laughed at Bakura, more so when he dared to loop an arm around the pale man's younger sibling, who merely giggled girlishly at such a move. Although, usually when Mariku would sling an arm around Yami's shoulders, or waist if he could steal such a thing, the blond would grin and feel a spark of warmth, but with Amane he was merely amused at her brother's reaction. So as far as Mariku could conclude, he really was receiving meaningful reactions from himself when he would touch Yami. How very new, intriguing, and welcoming. Such a thing had never occurred when he had touched others, especially so innocently.

 

Not that he had a habit of touching others innocently.

 

Mid-thought a dangerously sharp grin suddenly spread itself across Mariku's mind as he wondered if the same would occur if he were to touch Bakura in perhaps less than innocent ways… “That and perhaps he's just worried you're not quite old enough to have a child.”

 

Again everyone fell silent, Mariku had continued his airy statement with only a faint smirk, giving no one a chance to guess what he would say. Then again, Yami had wagered a hunch. One by one they blinked and their gazes locked onto Amane, who was suddenly flushing and sitting upright and free of the Egyptian's arm. When his fingers locked before him on the table, it was apparent to everyone this was now Ryou, who lowered his eyes in embarrassment and blushed brighter while clearing his throat nervously.

 

Yami guiltily fidgeted, Bakura's knuckles cracked, and Mariku wondered where the popcorn was.

 

“…I, well, I mean, we were hoping to talk about that after dinner.” Ryou's voice quivered softly, light brown gaze lifting only enough to see what his brother's body language would tell him, which wasn't much since Bakura was only massaging the back of his hands while shooting glares at Mariku for bringing up the ill-timed topic. The younger sibling could feel Amane's jittery nature threatening to burst forth and yammer away at her imaginary pregnancy, and he firmly kept a cap on her for fear of agitating Bakura further. They all knew his brother would never really do anything to them, after all, Bakura was a wonderful brother, if not too wonderful for being, as Amane had stated, too much into their lives. Not that he snooped about and interrogated them daily, but even Ryou, who was the most understanding of the Bakura family, felt that the eldest sibling needed to relax and trust the younger twins.

 

They were legally adults now, but that didn't mean they were about to change personas and run about wild. Ryou and Amane were happy with their steadily growing relationship with their amazingly understanding boyfriend, and while they loved Bakura to death, when they had finally decided to have sex it had been more or less a rebellious act against their dear brother because they -knew- such a thing would piss him off. In their eyes he needed a reality check. He just couldn't keep babying them, especially since they were even a year older than Yami and their brother didn't treat the boy as strictly as he did them. While their choice hadn't been the best way to provide Bakura with proof they could make such momentous decisions on their own, Ryou and Amane stood by their course of action and never once regretted it.

 

No one in their right mind would have either, especially since their lover had been fantastic! Although they had no prior experience, the twins wagered that their boyfriend was exceptionally gifted, and they knew they would not tire of his skills any time soon.

 

“I-it was, was c-consensual, B-Bakura. P-p-please don't be, be hard-d on the-them. If, if y-you want to r-rant at any-anyone, then do i-it at me.” He had refrained from speaking more than a greeting since this, but the blond situated just beside Bakura felt it was his duty as Ryou and Amane's lover to speak up and curve their elder sibling's possible rage away from them. The mahogany eyes that bore into his own hazel-colored gaze flickered with annoyance and a speckle of surprise, neither blinking for a handful of moments as they tasted the air for any signs of the opponent's next move, everyone else holding their breaths as they watched.

 

Bakura couldn't help it though, the silence was gnawing at him fitfully and his palms itched from pure irritation. Even if he knew the blond beside him couldn't help the trip over words and sounds, Bakura still wanted to hurt the pride of the one who had taken his siblings' innocence, as cliché as it sounded. Especially now that he was all riled up from Amane and Mariku's less than innocent remarks, Bakura couldn't think matters through and bite his tongue, and so he let the agitation flow free. “Do you really think that if I had even the faintest trace of doubt it was consensual that you'd still have a tongue to stutter with, you crack-sniffing fuck-mutt?”

 

“Akeifa!” Yami was horror struck, even with his darkened skin it was easy to tell he was dashing between flushing and paling from the embarrassment his lover was causing. Normally Bakura was very good at laying off the teasing and wiseass remarks, but to blatantly say what he just did without the blond instigating the insult? The boy was mortified Jounouchi would be too hurt to forgive the pale man for the blow.

 

Katsuya stuttered constantly over even the shortest of phrases, the speech impediment having formed when he was young and living with his father. The man was by no means an excellent caregiver, but had actually tried to help the boy with what little money was spared from purchasing alcohol, saving it for a proper doctor's visit that could possibly cure the child of the extended ear infection. Too much time passed though and the young Katsuya no longer had a chance to heal. Aside from that he also had to manage his father, who only seemed to swing at him when drunk, other wise the man was actually pleasant enough. Regardless, the stress of it all had tormented the boy until he found that delinquency made others cease their mocking and helped relieve him of frustration. Of course that didn't last long either. Jounouchi was by no means a bad kid at heart, and when he finally confessed to the number of crimes he had committed, ranging from drug use, street fights, stealing, and truancy, someone took pity on him. Rather than placing him in a juvenile center, Jounouchi was assigned to group sessions at the local mental health facility run by the Kaibas, revered to be the best in the world, as well as generous since free services were provided to those who truly needed such.

 

It had been the best stroke of fate to land him in the very room Ryou was in. While Katsuya obviously had nothing mentally wrong with him, he was there due to a mistake of his own. Having recalled the wrong room number, the blond had walked into the first door he found and sat down, figuring he could just keep quiet and make it to his designated session next time, but at spotting the very pretty white-haired boy sitting across from him, Jounouchi suddenly wondered if he could permanently stick to that room. Which he did, as current sessions proved, since the honey-eyed man had practically begged to be allowed to attend the sessions Ryou had, having even met with Kaiba Seto himself to have the matter officially settled. Seto only allowed the change after slipping up and calling the blond a `love-struck puppy', a very unprofessional move he apologized for by allowing Jou to follow Ryou as he wished, which only proved the brunet correct really.

 

Even if Bakura had never liked the blond he had never truly said anything to insinuate the trio should break up either, resorting to giving Jounouchi a hard time and insulting him endlessly to keep the blond in his place. It worked remarkably well, not that Katsuya had ever wished to challenge the menacing looking man, but it kept them on solid, agreeable terms. They both were only watching out for Ryou in their own ways, and so long as they didn't interfere with one another, problems didn't arise. Then again, they had never discussed sex and Ryou within the same breath, so whether it was Bakura's turf to protect, or Jounouchi's to enjoy, they were blind to the fact that perhaps neither were supposed to fight for rights when it was in fact Ryou's responsibility to decide what to do with himself… even if it was his sister who essentially took credit for the insinuation of the copulation.

 

As logical as this all appeared, apparently this fact only seemed clear to Yami, who was now the only innocent left in their small group, in terms of actual penetration at least, and so the boy took it as offensive that others would try to claim rights to someone's private decisions. He could only imagine the disagreement Yuugi and Bakura would have once Yami decided he was ready to give himself so intimately to his lover.

 

“Apologize this instant, Akeifa!” The boy's voice trembled dangerously, it was rare when Yami would actually become angry, and while it was clear he meant it, his lover apparently wasn't in the mood to cooperate instantly as Bakura merely crossed his arms and snorted, dark gaze flicked away from them all.

 

“It's a-al-alright, Yami-i.” Jounouchi even smiled as he tried to reassure the Egyptian he truly wasn't insulted, and while everyone else noted this from the way the blond shrugged airily, apparently that didn't matter to the boy, who was beginning to glare heatedly at Bakura.

 

“Darling… Why don't you take a deep breath and try to smile for me? You look so pretty when you smile, please?” He meant it too, although Mariku would be stupid if he didn't admit that the boy looked damn straight tantalizing when this upset. The way Yami's livid red eyes darkened to pools of tainted blood and fury someone of his size just shouldn't be capable of withstanding made the other Egyptian's mouth dry. He had noted the buried strength in the boy from the moment they met and had been attracted to it immediately. There was raw rage seething within that wiry body, hidden behind heavy folds of childish demeanors and weak acts, and it bothered Mariku that he didn't know, and morally wasn't allowed to interrogate for, the reason Yami presented himself as someone he wasn't. More importantly, did dear Bakura realize the younger was a demon just waiting to be provoked into a flurry of immeasurable hate? The idea of harnessing such emotional possibility and reshaping it to something more, physically, promising pulled a grin out of him momentarily. But now was clearly not the time for hormone-driven thoughts, and so Mariku tossed on a sincere smile and soothing tone, trying to redirect the younger's attention to himself so as to calm him.

 

Of course, Bakura felt this was an opportunity to snap again, and as terrible as the timing was, he figured he couldn't get into deeper shit, so why not just wad around in it? “Why don't you shut the fuck up and stop hitting on everything with a pulse, Mariku?” It was nearly a hiss, Bakura's teeth clenched as he growled and leaned across the table to directly tell off the blond lazily blinking at him in return. “And stop fucking calling -my- boyfriend pet names! Go fuck yourself raw with that fork you were blowing a few minutes ago because Yami's -mine- you fucked up piece of-”

 

For what seemed like eternity and a half they all sat there, shut up in deafening silence as the sound of flesh meeting flesh swallowed them whole in a blinding instant. No one moved, no one thought, no one even breathed as they felt the room grow dreadfully cold in shock, eyes fixed on Bakura as a pale cheek reddened and a faintly recognizable mark of a palm and fingers formed in a bright clash. The hand that had left the offending blotch trembled violently inches away from the man's face. Mahogany eyes blinked in a slight daze as Bakura lightly fingered the sting on his cheek, vision faltering before he looked at the boy beside him in stunned silence.

 

Yami didn't know what to make of the situation either, eyes incredibly wide in horror while his hand shook and felt as though it were on fire, fingers curling slightly when his lover looked at him with what his numbing mind interpreted as anger.

 

What had he done?

 

-“O-oh… Oh Gods… I didn't…”-

 

He hadn't meant to do it, no, no! He just couldn't stand listening to Bakura insult Mariku like that! Before it had just been out of agitation and the boy could ignore it for the most part, but the pale man was saying such vulgar things while claiming Yami as his and his alone, which would have been perfectly fine and plausible if Yami didn't feel so guilty about -wanting- to be shared between the two. But even then, what right did he have to raise his hand to his lover? Bakura took care of him, understood him, -loved- him, and after all this what did Yami offer him in return?...

 

A slap on the face he never meant to give.

 

Lips quivering, the boy finally took a sob-hitched breath, tears making his eyes look glassy as he abruptly stood and staggered to his room, chair toppling over and covering the sound of his door slamming shut.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

`I know, deep inside you need me
No one else can make it right'

 

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“I'll go watch him, the rest of you settle this matter and clean up. It's the least you can do.” The shortest male of the remaining group frowned sharply at the others after a gap of quiet, Yuugi's amazingly steely voice shifting them into movement while he stood and cautiously hurried after his brother. He felt like smacking Bakura another one for making his brother snap like that, but unlike the others, Yuugi was capable of thinking through cause and effect. Taking a calming breath since he needed to be at his best to manage whatever his brother was going through, he raised his hand and gently knocked against the shut door, a pained feeling coursing through him at hearing a muffled sob on the other side. “Yami, it's me. Can I come in?” A ragged hiccup answered and Yuugi took that as an affirmative, slowly opening the door and shutting it behind him, crossing the room and sighing softly as he seated himself on the younger's bed. “Come here, Yami. Shh, come on.” His voice curved very softly, a devoted tone of love accompanying his outstretched arms that were quickly filled with the younger sibling when Yami crawled over from his fetal position at one corner to join his brother.

 

Face wet with tears, the younger sobbed against Yuugi's shoulder while allowing him to cradle his torso against the smaller body, knees tucked along Yuugi's side as Yami curled up as best he could again, burying his face into the warmth his brother provided. -“I didn't mean to do it! Oh Gods, he hates me now… Why didn't I just… Oh Gods, Yuugi, Bakura won't love me anymore… I just wanted him to stop yelling at Mariku…”- His brother clearly didn't understand what he was saying, but Yuugi knew it wasn't important as he had his guesses, especially since he could at least comprehend the names. Rocking Yami gently and allowing the boy to cry as much as he needed, Yuugi comforted the younger for several long minutes, whispering soft words and encouragement once the boy quieted to only hiccups and dry sniffles after a session of understanding patience.

 

“Better now?” Peering down at the lightly trembling form, Yuugi brushed back the streaks of blond bangs clinging to Yami's damp cheeks, a small kiss placed on the boy's forehead when a shuddering breath and sniffle shook the frail body again. “Do you want to talk?” A hesitant nod of his brother's head followed a stretch of silence, the two rearranging themselves so Yuugi could lean comfortably against the headboard while the younger remained coiled on and against him, arms comfortingly wrapped around Yami's body.

 

“I didn't mean to… to…” Yuugi nodded and held the boy closer, gently assuring his brother that they all knew that, even Bakura. “Then why didn't he… Why didn't Bakura come in here instead of you?” The younger's reddened eyes welled up with tears again even as they shut tightly, a whimper escaping him as he felt his heart squeeze painfully in his chest.

 

“Because I told him and everyone else to stay and clean up. I'm your big brother and it's my duty to check up on you before anyone else.” Feeling that Yami remained tense even after the small tease, Yuugi sighed and gently worked over the boy's muscles, fingers nimbly coaxing away the knots of worry and heartache. “Yami, you know Bakura loves you very much. He would be hurt if he knew you doubted him.”

 

The boy gasped and looked up at his elder brother, tears caught along eyelids and long lashes as Yami shook his head and bit his bottom lip. “I'm not, it's just… I would understand if he didn't-”

 

“The point is that he loves you regardless. I'm betting you could kick his ass and he'd still love you, if anything he'd ask you to do it again because he just seems kinky that way.” Yuugi smiled at his brother's shaky giggle, holding the younger firmly, and nodding pointedly while wiping the last of the boy's tears away. “So you agree that he still loves you?” Yami smiled weakly and nodded against Yuugi's chest, sighing quietly to the strokes being placed throughout his hair. The boy had his worries, but Yuugi would never intentionally mislead him, so Yami settled for pushing the hurtful thoughts and possibilities away. “Good, but you're going to have to prove it by asking for his forgiveness, you know he'll accept your apology, and probably grope you while he apologizes in return.”

 

“Yuugi!”

 

The diminutive male grinned and gave his younger brother a squeeze, letting him go while sliding off the bed and helping himself to one of Yami's dressers in search for a dry shirt. It remained comfortably quiet for a moment, one brother occupied with finding something to borrow that suited his taste, while the other furrowed his brow in thought.

 

Hiccupping only on occasion now, Yami was able to think more clearly as he tried to sway his mind into dwelling on better thoughts. He believed Yuugi not because he was dependent on following his elder brother's words, but because once he really thought about it with a level head and deep breath, Yami figured his boyfriend really wouldn't be as likely to leave him over this as he had first thought. After all, it's not like the boy could have really -hurt- Bakura. The pale man was just so much stronger than him that Yami actually contemplated giggling about the idea of having even left a mark, but he instantly felt bad about such thoughts and decided to focus on his reason for having slapped Bakura.

 

Mariku.

 

Bakura had been insulting Mariku and the boy had not stood for it any more than if anyone had insulted Bakura. He tried to fool himself into thinking that perhaps he was only acting like such because he considered Mariku a close friend even in the very short time that they knew each other, but Yami mentally groaned as he knew that simply wasn't it. He was enthralled with the blond, and not in the way he had originally thought. At first the boy figured he was merely excited to meet someone new, it had happened each time he had met Yuugi, Ryou, and Jounouchi, Yami clinging to each until he wrung out his childish fascination with them and then remaining content with knowing they were simply there. Even if he wasn't spending every moment with the other Egyptian, Yami could feel it within himself that he was much too fond of the blond. But as he had realized earlier, the attachment to Mariku definitely wasn't fading, but growing and emanating a pretty feeling that nearly mirrored what the boy experienced when Bakura was with him. Yami knew the feeling would eventually match evenly with what he felt for Bakura, and while he was all for claiming that he loved Mariku already, how could he honestly say such when there was a predicament constantly brewing? Problems caused mostly due to Bakura's hardheadedness and less than charming rudeness, but wasn't that why he loved the pale man to begin with? And it was more than likely those same qualities that attracted him to Mariku. Yami did find it amusing that such characteristics were what he found enjoyable in the pair when other people would usually stay away from, well, plainly stated, the jerks the men could come across as. The matter was simple, he wanted Bakura -and- Mariku, and selfish or not, Yami wasn't about to give up either man.

 

He just needed Bakura to drop his defenses and enjoy Mariku's company, or, as Yami was desperately hoping for, he wanted the two men to fall in love with each other and him. Triangles were such pretty shapes after all! He should know, the boy had spent much of his youth gazing at the pyramids' profiles outside his bedroom window.

 

“…Yuugi?”

 

“Yeah?” Pulling off his tear soaked shirt and exchanging it for another, Yuugi blinked at his brother expectantly while ruffling his hair back up, fussing over his mussed bangs before the mirror.

 

Yami fidgeted on the bed in thought, face scrunching up as he contemplated what exactly it was he wanted to tell, or really, ask his brother. “Um… How do you… I mean, how can I… No. Well, yes, but…” Yuugi raised a brow at his flustered sibling, sitting once more on the bed and tipping his head back while regarding the younger, waiting for the stumbling words to make sense. Finally Yami took a deep breath and ignored his reddening cheeks, focusing all attention on his clasped hands. He told himself there was no way he could confront Jounouchi with this matter now, even if the blond forgave him for what Bakura had said, Yami still felt it wouldn't be appropriate, and so the boy figured his brother would be just as good to confide in. “How can I make someone fall in love with someone else without, um… breaking up an existing relationship, so that… you know, maybe the three of them wind up together?”

 

The laughter that followed the short lapse of silence didn't sound stunned or mocking, Yuugi merely rejoicing while wrapping an arm around the surprised younger's shoulder, and smirking knowingly with a raised eyebrow. “Yami, my dear brother, this is going to be a piece of cake if you're talking about getting Bakura to admit his -existing- feelings for Mariku. Yes it's true, don't give me that shocked look because Amane and I could see it the second your new roomie even breathed in the same room as Bakura. We were totally hitting on Mariku on purpose to try and get Bakura to say something, but he's so stubborn!” Yami's startled expression only became more apparent at hearing this, the younger sibling blinking in confusion, and at a loss for words as he merely pouted and flushed. “Oh, and the reason you didn't notice was because you're so love-struck with Mariku too. Blink, Yami, or your eyes will fall out.”

 

The younger barely managed to do as told, face feeling very warm as he looked down, and whining softly while collapsing backwards onto the bed. “How did you… Gah! Do you think Bakura knows?”

 

“That he's mesmerized by another Egyptian? Nope, he probably knows he's attracted to him, but he's also probably in denial since he'd be worried about admitting anything to himself or you because he thinks you'll be heartbroken. Which is the same reason you haven't said anything either, I'll bet.”

 

“…You scare me, Yuugi, really.” Rolling onto his belly, Yami blinked up at his brother in wonder and shook his head, sighing while smoothing over the blanket before him absentmindedly. “So… You're going to help me, right?” The devilish grin that overtook his elder sibling's face suddenly made him think that Yuugi had been spending far too much time around Bakura, Yami flushing as he worried what it would take to get such a difficult task done properly. After all, with Bakura being as thickskulled as he was, getting him to admit he fancied Mariku was not about to be a small job. Yami knew from experience that something as easy as getting the pale man to make his own bed was like asking him to donate his brain, so something like this was not going to fall into place smoothly. Nonetheless, Yami had faith in Yuugi. Certainly his elder brother was wise enough to know how to conduct such a difficult mission masterfully.

 

“Baby brother, with my help, you're guaranteed to have them buying each other roses and singing duet sonnets to you. Now let's scheme!”

 

…Alright. Well, by wise he meant blinded by disillusionment, of course. But a little bit of crazy never hurt anyone.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

`Love and passion make me crazy
Your existence makes me wild
Wanna loosen up your feelings
To see what's hiding inside'

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

After the door had shut to signal Yuugi was within Yami's room, the remaining four had looked amongst themselves and silently cleaned up the kitchen, a tad disorganized since no one knew quite what to say for fear of rousing yet another hurl of words someone would regret. Not that anyone could match Bakura's tally count; that was mutually and silently agreed upon. But quiet had never resided well with some of them, and while it wasn't clear who had said the first thing, conversation about petty things suddenly began to spring up, and somewhere along Bakura wiping clean the table and Jounouchi putting away the dishes Mariku dried after Amane had washed them, someone chuckled, and then there was laughter and less tension as they finished and bade each other a job well done. But it was awkward and they avoided direct eye contact throughout it, at least until Mariku offered them a drink, of the alcoholic kind.

 

“Oh, um… actually, we're too young to drink.” Ryou offered when the other two merely blinked at the blond Egyptian, his sister having been forced out of control since she was all too eager to drink his body stupid, and his mother wasn't even paying attention. Most importantly, Ryou didn't feel like being scolded at by Bakura for accepting the invitation. “And `Suya doesn't ever drink.” His blond boyfriend smiled a bit with a shrug, stuttering through an explanation to Mariku revolving around the fact he didn't wish to end up like his father, so he had never allowed himself to even taste the temptation.

 

“Aw.” Mariku pursed his lips a moment, nodding in acceptance at the two before turning his violet gaze on the other white-haired male in the room, smirking only enough so Bakura would notice it. “And you, Ba-Kura? Will you join me for a drink?” He asked it quite sweetly, innocently almost as he fluttered dark gold lashes at the slightly shorter man, a challenge underlying it all.

 

Crossing his arms, Bakura raised a pale brow while leaning against the counter, a disinterested tone in his voice despite his initial inclination to accept. “First off, I'm a year too young to buy the shit so we don't have any, and second, if I don't trust you while sober, what makes you think I'll trust you while drunk?” He was surprised Mariku had forgiven him for the insult without a second thought, or so he assumed since the Egyptian hadn't brought up Bakura's earlier words, not that he was complaining. Although, while Bakura felt that the blond had deserved it, he had also felt guilty about snapping, not just for upsetting Yami, but because in the back of his mind he figured that wasn't the best thing to have said to his new roommate.

 

Not that he -cared-, or anything…

 

Bakura felt his chest tighten pleasantly when the violet-eyed male before him grinned gorgeously at him. Damn heart, why did it have to react like -that- just as he was coaching himself through thinking of Mariku as nothing more than just another guy?

 

“Ah, fine reasons indeed.” The Egyptian snickered, canting his head to regard Bakura from the corner of his eyes, slowly arching his back in a stretch while walking to the fridge. “But apparently you don't give me enough credit. I bought myself some beer as a housewarming gift since I am of age, as of last December incase you were wondering. Remember to buy me a gift this year. Anyway, so your first excuse is out the window.” While stating this all in an amused breath, Mariku popped open the fridge, grinning while fingering two bottles out from the handful he had smuggled in among one box or another and snuck into the refrigerator when no one was looking. “As for your second notion, well… You'd be surprised just how charming I can be when intoxicated.”

 

“I'm sure…” The paler's voice was wary, fingers numbing at the cold bottle now in his hand. Of course he wasn't new to drinking, he'd had his share of binges early on. Being a wild and renegade adolescent had been the best years of his otherwise static childhood, at least from what he chose to admit that he remembered, but Bakura was more concerned about making an ass of himself than of what Mariku would do. He never could hold his liquor very well, and while Bakura nearly always remember the idiotic things he had done when drunk off his rocker, the last time he had downed anything harder than cider he had been Yami's age, and the pale man was worried about how easily he'd succumb to his inner… wants, especially with Mariku so close and Yami not in the room to stand in as a living shield.

 

By now Mariku had already rid his bottle of the metallic cap, pocketing it and grinning around the nozzle while he drank a hefty amount in one breath. The white-haired man before him shifted uneasily from one foot to another, lost in his thoughts and not realizing the Egyptian was visually taunting him, but Mariku didn't have to wait too long because after a moment Bakura snapped back to attention and tore his gaze from the icy bottle. Pointed frown directed at the blond, Bakura struggled with the cap and finally opened it, the wisp of chilly bubbles stumbling over his pale fingers before he kicked his head back and determinedly swallowed just a little more than Mariku, a ragged intake of breath taken afterwards to accompany his proud `Anything you can do, I can do better' smirk.

 

“Ooh, we having a party?” Yuugi's voice startled them and the short male was all grin while he made his way toward the four, pausing to eye what it was Bakura and Mariku were drinking before chirping along. Being the same age as Ryou and Jou, Yuugi was two years too young to legally enjoy himself, and while he had no qualms about having discreet fun when opportunity arose, this night was for his brother and he didn't wish to accidentally wind up waking up with a hangover while in someone's lap the next morning. Not that he'd ever done that before… in Yami's apartment at least. “Yup, guess it is. So where's the music?”

 

“No musi-”

 

“You're absolutely right!” Mariku grinned at interrupting Bakura, pretending to ignore the glower while he insisted the short tri-color haired man show him the entertainment system, which Yuugi did quite happily, even suggesting CDs and showing the Egyptian just what each knob and button did.

 

“Excuse me, that's not yours to show off, or yours to play with.” Bakura growled, stalking after them and setting down his unfinished bottle along the way. “Would you listen to me damn it!” He was flippantly waved away by Ryou and Jou, who decided to help once Yuugi had snagged them aside and whispered something to them, the two raiding the collection of CDs and testing out various songs and artists, bass and treble measures altered until they could feel the beats thump throughout their ribcages. Bakura couldn't even hear himself threatening them anymore once the volume was jumped up several decibels. “Yami doesn't want you guys screwing around with his stuff!”

 

“Let them. So long as I get to screw around with your stuff…”

 

The familiar voice made Bakura's senses jolt, half in alarm since Yami was apparently witnessing this mess, and half in arousal at such a statement, and was that a sultry tone his lover had just used? “YamYa- Holy hell…” Bakura had turned around, ready to see what state the younger was in after his crying fit, only to be startled, and in such a good way, at the boy's appearance.

 

Yami merely smiled in return, the corner of his lips twisting up in a sly smirk as he noted the other was appreciating him just the way Yuugi had said he would. Coal-colored jeans were painted along his slender legs, ragged tears that exposed sizable portions of his tanned skin located along his thighs, curving inward and upward tantalizingly while fashionably faded patches gave the illusion of depth in very specialized areas. The snug jeans clung dangerously low along the boy's hips, normally hidden dimples of his skin clearly exposed while the rest of what rested below remained clothed by what Bakura could only guess was magic. The dark arch of Yami's Ankh around his navel was proudly displayed, teasing the pale man with dirty thoughts as the bottom portion still flirted beneath those damnable jeans, insisting attention be drawn downward. Wearing what looked like half a tank top, the black material hugged Yami's narrow chest and didn't even properly hide the boy's last two ribs, not that Bakura was complaining, Gods no, because with so much of the boy's darker skin on display, he had very little work to do in order to imagine his lover naked. As horrid of a thought as it was, the pale man was suddenly very glad Yami never left the apartment, what would he do if others saw his boyfriend like this?

 

“You like?” Yami asked cutely, blinking quite widely in question as he pulled off a wholly innocent look despite running a finger down his flat belly, watching Bakura follow the bait. Yami had to fight off an embarrassed giggle over all of this. The plan his brother had formulated was quite risqué, but it would prove wonderfully well-worth the daring, out of character moves if Bakura could be swayed to admit his feelings one way or another for the blond Egyptian once everything was played out. The way the plan was set up, Bakura wouldn't even have to say anything, merely agree to-

 

“Fuck. Yes.” Approving grin on his face, the paler could only scan over the boy's body in appreciation. “Where did you get those pants?” Closing the gap between them in trance-like steps, Bakura was now close enough to the boy to gently brush inquisitive fingertips down the younger male's shoulder. Small scars that littered the beautifully tanned skin along the boy's upper arms were skimmed over tenderly, Yami purring to the airy caresses as the old, lingering hurt, that at least didn't physically exist anymore, was wrapped in Bakura's warm presence. Even if the paler didn't know how the boy had acquired the scars, the younger never spoke of anything other than his early childhood back home, Bakura kissed over the marks as though he knew just how much each of them had stung when fresh, silently promising Yami that who ever had hurt him would never do such again.

 

Promises he didn't realize he couldn't keep…

 

Scarlet eyes lulled shut to the whispering touches, Yami arching his body toward his lover's until their hips met, the stir of breath sucked past pale lips making the boy smirk and look up at Bakura innocently again, although he did crinkle his nose slightly. What was that funny taste on his boyfriend's breath? “I've had them. Maybe I should look in the back of my closet more often, hm?” A cute giggle and Yami wrapped his arms around the taller's neck as Bakura nodded mutely, fully leaning against the hard body and fighting off more giggles as Bakura's shirt tickled his exposed tummy. Purring just under his breath, the boy diverted his lover's attention by scratching at the nape of the taller's neck, wrapping long strands of white hair around his small fingers and grinning as Bakura lidded his eyes. Quickly, the boy glanced around his lover to check on Yuugi, biting his lip to keep from giggling as his brother, Ryou, and Jou were putting forth all their effort to keep Mariku from turning around and spotting him too soon, the three winking at Yami while distracting the other Egyptian with another beer or CD.

 

Wait.

 

Pausing his fingers, Yami blinked widely as he realized that the strange scent on the taller's breath was just that, alcohol. “Kura…” Glancing around, the boy's eyes fell on the bottle set on the counter, the dark glass not quite concealing the remainder of the liquid within. He reached over and lightly held the bottle by the neck, fingers stinging at the cold while he sniffed the mouth of it, nose wrinkling at the bitter smell in response.

 

“Baby, no, put that down.” Bakura tried to snatch the beer from the boy's grasp once he regained his senses and saw what it was that had distracted Yami, blinking when the younger raised a brow and stepped back just out of reach while holding the bottle out accusingly. “Look, Mariku's the one who- Yami! No!” Dark eyes widened and Bakura suddenly felt as though he were all too familiar with the rush of panic that could flood the younger's veins. The boy had his head arched back as he took several long swallows of the remaining alcohol, a harsh cough issued from his small frame when he couldn't take the scratching sensation the drink left throughout his mouth and along his throat, stomach clenching and doing a funny whirl as it didn't quite like the burning intruder now sloshing within. “YamYam, what are you doing, baby?” Biting back the need to drag the boy to the sink and make him heave what he just drank, Bakura snatched him into his arms instead and allowed the boy to press his forehead against his chest while he continued to cough and sputter, the elder male quickly thinking back on whether Yami had taken any pills within the past hour as it would be particularly dangerous to mix them with alcohol in a body so thin.

 

“Ngh, that tastes awful!” Yami whined softly, tears blurring his vision as he clung to the stronger body firmly. Alright, so perhaps that hadn't been a part of the plan his brother had set out for him, or the most intelligent thing to do, but he had figured so long as he was acting odd, what was the harm in adding to it? It was safe to say his throat and tummy would remind him never to try the scalding drink ever again. “I'm sorry…” He sounded particularly pitiful now, mouth feeling raw and abused in a not quite so pleasant way. The chest he was nestled against rose and fell with a heavy sigh, Yami pouting and peeking up hesitantly, eyes suddenly widened as from this angle he could clearly make out a faint mark on his lover's pale cheek, the boy sucking in a breath as more tears sprang up. “Oh no. Bakura, I'm so sorry!” Startling the taller for a moment, Yami shushed him while he carefully traced the edge of the flushed skin, fingertips tangling in white strands of hair in order to pull Bakura down closer and tenderly kiss and mouth further apologies against the small patch of hurt he had made. “I'll make this up to you too, Kura…”

 

It was that voice again, and being situated just a short distance from his ear this time, Bakura couldn't help the shudder that rippled his body; arms securing the boy impossibly close as he accepted the younger's apologies and tempting promise. It was safe to say they had just made up, but to make it official Bakura cocked his head until the younger's still murmuring lips brushed against his own, both purring softly into the kiss despite the unpleasant aftertaste of alcohol, at least until the pale man choked in the middle as he struggled to groan and catch his breath when Yami bumped their hips together roughly, disentangling himself from the startled man just when Bakura began to question what the hell was up with the boy tonight.

 

“Let's play a game!”

 

Ah, perfect timing. Then again, the jerk of Yami's hips had been the signal Yuugi had been waiting for…

 

At any rate, the group assembled in the living room, Bakura unsuccessful in trying to get his lover to explain himself while Yami giggled and sat down innocently on the floor, which caused his jeans to squirm lower on his hips. Some of them, namely Mariku, wondered whether or not the boy even had body hair since there appeared to be no evidence of any with all the skin showing. If his jeans went a thread lower they were sure this gathering would suddenly be rated well above mature, not that most of them, Mariku heading this team again, were complaining.

 

“What're we playing?”

 

“A classic, of course.” Yuugi nodded matter of factly at the blond Egyptian, who had plopped down beside Bakura and wasn't at all surprised when the pale man growled and scooted over to sit on Yami's other side. Said boy bubbled up with giggles at the fact he was now between both men, waiting for Ryou to sit beside Bakura while Jou sat beside the pale younger sibling, Yuugi then snug between both blonds as he completed the circle. “Now, I assume we all know how to play this one. Yami, you have the game piece?” The youngest member of the group smiled proudly while holding out the very bottle whose contents he had nearly gagged on, ignoring Bakura's groan while pouting a moment when he noticed some of the horrid liquid remained within.

 

“I'll take care of that for you, darling.” Mariku grinned slowly while plucking the item from the boy's hand, their fingers rustling more than necessary, making all but one of the spectators giggle. And even while mahogany eyes were glaring murder at him, the blond was not concerned with probable death as he merely wanted to touch Yami. Too bad it was only the boy's hands, because Mariku knew damn well that he'd love to run a lot more than his fingers across the divinely displayed skin he was feasting on. Filthy thoughts in place, most of them involving his tongue tracing patterns over indecent places, the Egyptian smirked as he took the bottle and circled the mouth of it with his lips before prodding at it with successive darts of his now roused tongue. Purring quite loudly when he tipped the glass back so he could drink the scant amount left, Mariku laved the rim before placing the bottle on its side in the middle of the circle. More than one person swallowed and fought off a squirm.

 

“Ah, um… Okay.” Yuugi cleared his throat while fanning himself with a silly grin, head shaking as he tried to refocus. “Oh, now we need five bottle caps. Anybody have- Wow, thank you, Mariku.” Sorting out the necessary number, Yuugi then grinned happily while he proceeded to explain the rules. It was a hybrid game, nothing terribly difficult to understand so he didn't have to repeat himself, though Bakura did voice a complaint or two about how certain people shouldn't be allowed to play, though he was overruled each time and Mariku voiced his own comments, mostly of gratitude for being salvaged as he seemed particularly amused at the odd game and wholly wished to participate. “Alright! Now that everything's settled, is anyone just dying to start it off?”

 

It wasn't terribly surprising who's hand rose immediately, Mariku snickering as he spun the bottle eagerly once he was allowed to, smilingly pleasantly at the blond the nozzle decided to land on. “Ah, alright, pup.” No one was sure when the Egyptian had dubbed Jounouchi that, but the latter seemed fine with the endearment and smiled back. “What shall it be, are you willing to kiss sexy little me? Or will you be shooting for a potentially hazardous outlet instead?”

 

Jou could feel two pairs of eyes narrow at him jealously, the blond making sure not to look at Yami or Bakura while he smirked and pretended to ponder, which only made the two squirm in further anticipation, Yuugi quietly snickering to himself as he mentally bid his friend a job well done. He had informed Ryou, Amane, and Jou of Yami's dilemma, and while the four had figured it out throughout the night, having confirmation gave them what they needed in order to properly handle this new information. Still young enough to deviously want to set up friends, but mature enough to know how to do it without making a horrid mess of things, the four had a plan formulated and they each knew what roles to play in order to make Yami's wish come true, or at least squirm closer to reality. Jounouchi scooped up the bottle caps as planned and heard two breaths of relief in response, grinning as he tossed the tokens and four landed topside up, nodding at Mariku for a question.

 

“Damn, and here I was puckering up for you.” The Egyptian grinned, rolling a shoulder casually as he thought for the total of half a second. “So what position did you and Ryou, and Amane, do it in for your first time?”

 

“He can't ask that!”

 

“Bakura, you heard the rules, and this is perfectly acceptable.”

 

“Who the fuck made up these rules anyway?”

 

Yuugi managed to ignore the pale man's outburst, as did the others, and motioned for Jou to answer since Bakura was already buzzed even on his half a beer, other wise he would have been more of a threat, or at least more insistent to end this. The blond and his boyfriend both flushed as they were put on the spot, and while they had figured such a question would have come up, especially from Mariku, they weren't quite brave enough to just blurt it out. So with permission from the others, once again Bakura had been overruled, Jounouchi crawled across the circle and whispered the answer in the Egyptian blonde's ear, reddening further when Mariku grinned and praised them for such a good choice.

 

“Stupid game…”

 

“Oh hush, Ba-Kura.” Mariku grinned more than a little flirtatiously, winking at Jounouchi as a sign of keeping his mouth shut about the newly acquired information while the blond flushed and took his turn twisting the bottle around. “If you thought that was bad, then just wait until I get to ask you a question…”

 

“I won't fucking answer any question you ask then.”

 

“Then you'll have to either kiss me or sit on my lap as punishment, won't you?” At Yuugi's innocent nod of agreement to the Mariku's words, the Egyptian smirked at the paler as the rules were clearly established and confirmed, Bakura growling in his throat and swearing to every deity he knew to salvage him.

 

“B-Bakur-ra?” Ignoring the glare he was given, Jounouchi smiled pleasantly and pointed to the bottle, which was pointing straight at the pale man and still rocking a bit as though laughing.

 

~“Oh bloody hell…”~ Crossing his arms defiantly, Bakura shook his head and ranted for several minutes about why he would -not- be kissing Jounouchi. Aside from being his brother's boyfriend, he also listed he didn't like blonds, frowning at Mariku as further example, before grabbing and tossing the bottle caps, then glaring at them for condemning him to an action rather than a question. “Stupid caps… So what do you want me to do?”

 

Although he was receiving Bakura's threatening glare, Jounouchi managed to grin and tap his fingers, postponing the torment until the paler announced he would be going to bed if this took any longer. Motioning Bakura to stay seated, Jou pulled off the sweetest smile he could while telling the other he wanted Bakura to strip down to his boxers, which they all knew he usually didn't wear. Yami and Ryou were the first to break into a fit of giggles, more so since the man between them actually seemed to flush only lightly enough for them to see, getting a swat on the head each to quiet them down.

 

“…While I normally wouldn't give a flying shit, I'll have to pass your request due to…” Bakura shifted a bit on the floor, giving the blond a `you-know-why' frown, and poking at Yami's ribs to quiet the boy's returned giggles.

 

“That's hot, Ba-kura.” Sultry grin in place, Mariku made it obvious he was mentally undressing the pale man, further amused when Bakura refused to look at him and seemed to hide quite well behind a curtain of white tresses. And who was he to not take the opportunity to torment his pale icon of infatuation? Especially since the situation so kindly presented itself. “Tell me, Ba-Kura, do you sleep naked then? I'd imagine it's just so much easier to shed off your clothes and flop into bed rather than undress and then toss boxers on. Any chance you sleep without sheets too?” Because Mariku figured he could `accidentally' walk into the wrong room in the middle of the night, not that he hadn't planned on doing that at some point already.

 

“Shut. Up.” Still averting the violet gaze, Bakura growled and wondered why he wasn't cracking his fist against Mariku's jaw already. This game was only on its second round and he already felt like quitting, but he wouldn't for the soul fact he refused to limp away with wounded pride. “And you.” Snapping his attention to the other blond he couldn't quite stand, Bakura surprised Jou by huffing and crawling toward him determinedly. “Shut your eyes, close your mouth, and don't you dare kiss back.” It was over before anyone could make a big deal over the peck, Bakura welding his own eyes shut while his mouth remained a tightly pressed line at the moment of impact, and while Amane insisted her brother should have to redo it because she wanted to see some tongue, Bakura took his spot on the floor again and resembled a child who had just eaten a much detested vegetable. “Goddamn game.” Feverishly rubbing at his mouth, the pale man ignored the roll of eyes he received while violently spinning the hated bottle before him, an array of prayers chanting in his mind in hopes of keeping the vile thing from pointing at Mariku, who seemed to be countering with his own prayers for the turn to land on him while licking his lips in high hope. “What the fuck? Someone up there hates me…”

 

“Mm, I'm sure it could have been worse.”

 

Bakura glared across from him but kept silent, Yuugi was right, even if he wouldn't admit it outwardly. “Whatever, are you going to molest my mouth too or what, midget-”

 

“Bakura!”

 

“Ow, how many times are you going to slap me today, YamYam?” He quickly smiled at the boy and kissed him on the forehead before Yami could take that the wrong way, Bakura expectantly raising his brow to Yuugi once his boyfriend was through pouting and nestled against him.

 

“As much as I'd love to play tonsil-hockey with you, it's just more fun when something other than kissing goes on.” And with that Yuugi gathered the rogue caps and tossed them back down, looking slightly disappointed he had to settle for only answering a question.

 

“Where's the weirdest place you've had sex?”

 

“Akeifa! Gah! I can't believe you!” Yami groaned, that was definitely something he didn't need to hear so he buried his face in his lover's lap, which made Mariku grin as it reminded him of a reversal situation of what he had walked in on the night before.

 

“Oh gosh, that's a hard one.” Everyone blinked in surprise at the way Yuugi had to mumble to himself while listing off sexual encounters, his younger brother whimpering and jabbing a finger into Bakura's rib as punishment for asking such a thing. Even Mariku gawked once three minutes had gone by with nothing but murmured names and places tumbling from the short male's mouth. “Ah! I know!” Yuugi beamed at finally settling on a choice, nodding as he blinked innocently at the wary looks he was receiving. “In a shopping cart.”

 

Quiet.

 

Of course that couldn't last long and they all knew it, but it was surprising that it was Yami who spoke up, though he did look just as mortified as they expected. “…A shopping cart? Like… while in the store? With customers?”

 

“Mmhm.” His elder brother grinned and nodded, leaning back so he could hold himself up on his elbows. “Remember that college guy I talked about a few months ago? Mahaado? Yeah, he had a part-time job in some store. One thing led to another, a shopping cart happened to be nearby, and next thing I know we're in the shampoo aisle fu-”

 

“Oh Gods, stop!” Yami whined and covered his ears tightly, glaring at both his brother and lover for his now more than likely permanently damaged hearing.

 

The silly game went on after the burst of laughter, each spilling a handful of embarrassing secrets or doing awkward things, nothing of which was taken seriously. Surprisingly enough, Bakura actually loosened up once he felt nothing could really go terribly wrong, after all, games were only that, no? And even if something did happen, it would be brushed away and forgotten as just an incident. Wouldn't it?...

 

Not even bothering to grumble at the fact his brother's turn wound up landing on Mariku again, Bakura immersed himself in thoughts he didn't find all that pleasant. As he watched Ryou blush every possible shade of red while Mariku leaned toward him and kissed the pale younger sibling quite well, Bakura suddenly realized that the agitation he had been feeling throughout the night wasn't because the Egyptian had insistently teased him with one innuendo or another, but because Bakura -wanted- to show the smartass that he was very capable of being just as predatory.

 

He was going to have to turn the tables around.

 

Mariku thought he had the upper hand with his fucking talent of being so damn seductive he rendered his victims incapable of anything but doing his bidding, but no, Bakura wouldn't stand for such. Dark eyes narrowing in determination, the pale man suddenly found himself urging the bottle to land on him. He needed an open, public, reasonable moment like this to make his move, and while he could feel Mariku urging the bottle to pick the paler too, Bakura knew it was for a wholly different reason.

 

He would -not- be Mariku's trophy as the blond wanted.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

`Don't you try to hide the secrets
I can see it in your eyes
You said the words without speaking
And I'm gonna make you mine'

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

“Ooh, it picked me!” Yami giggled in a bubbly sort of way, hands clasped together before his chest as though he were ready to swoon. This was the first time he and Mariku had landed on each other, and while he didn't realize he was so blatantly expressing adoration for his newfound, and very much shared, love, the boy did collect himself with a breath and bashful smile at the other Egyptian, failing to notice the disappointed flicker in Bakura's eyes.

 

-“I've been waiting for this all evening, darling…”-

 

The boy felt his tummy flutter so quickly it made his cheeks color, Yami giggling nervously as he looked between his lap and the violet eyes half-lidded just for him. No. He couldn't act like a shy kid! Sneaking a glance at his brother, he noted how Yuugi only nodded minutely in reassurance. Yami knew he had to regain the more daring composure he had earlier used on Bakura, and while it was a fun role to play, he didn't know whether or not Mariku would fall for it quite as easily. But he wasn't to dwell on what -could- happen, Yami wouldn't know for certain unless he -tried-, and no one had ever really died trying. …Had they? -“Well, I guess I better make it worth the wait then.”- A not so innocent tone was used as his words came out huskier than anyone other than Bakura had heard, but that was the point, no one but his objects of love were supposed to hear him like that. Small grin in place to counter the surprised expression on Mariku's face, the boy leaned forward until he was on all fours, crawling the very short distance toward the other, but stopping halfway during his catlike stalk. It was unnecessary, everyone could have said so, but the game had to go on, even if Mariku didn't realize he was playing. Canting his head, the boy invited Mariku to meet him the rest of the way, the taller Egyptian readily scrambling forward after admiring the way Yami's jeans had wriggled another thread lower.

 

Taking a final moment in preparation, Yami suddenly smirked and let his blond lashes swoop low over his eyes, scarlet shimmering with naughty intentions glinting past quite clearly. He ran his teeth over his bottom lip to make it flush enticingly, keeping his mouth parted just a sliver as he cocked his head to the side, bangs slipping over his face and masking him in shadows, the whole effect presenting a wanton display Mariku shouldn't be capable of resisting. Well, at least that's what Yuugi had said.

 

And apparently his elder brother had been quite right as the next thing Yami knew was that his mouth was full of tongue while his body was snagged in someone's amazingly strong arms. Mewling helplessly, although in a very pleased manner, the boy shuddered as he was tasted and groped in ways that just weren't appropriate by any means, but as boneless as Mariku's kiss was rendering him, the younger reminded himself of his ultimate goal of getting Bakura to enjoy this too. And what better way to do such than by making Mariku as appealing to his lover as he could? Yes. Smirking much like Bakura would when he was up to no good, which was quite often really; Yami took hold of the situation and manipulated the blond to his liking. The boy's hands slid through the wild array of golden hair gently, deceivingly, fingers finally ensnaring fistfuls of the strands and yanking enough to startle Mariku without hurting him. The amused flash in the other's violet eyes assured Yami all was well, especially when the smaller male pulled a very interesting trick within Mariku's mouth that made the blond shudder and feel powerless for the first time in a very long while, most surprisingly was the fact the submissive role lasted longer than a split second. And all during the display the two Egyptians were watched with wide mahogany eyes glazed over with shock, jealously, and-

 

Oh Gods. Was watching his boyfriend ring a moan out of another man supposed to be this arousing?

 

Bakura bit his lip, thanking his earlier decision to wear a shirt that billowed over his lap so no one could see just how much he was enjoying the display, even while his mind threw a tantrum because he was left out. Clearing his throat loudly, the pale man had to do it again and yank Yami towards him with a flustered grumble that was clearly covering up his want to see some more. But no, damn it, Yami was still only -his- boyfriend and it would be -wrong- of him to insist the display go on. No matter what his groin wanted, Bakura still had his relationship to keep intact.

 

“Next time, could you -not- strangle Yami with your tongue?” Darkened eyes glared at the dazed violet currently trying to blink back to reality, and for a moment Mariku resembled less like the seducer and more the seduced victim. The look suited him well in Bakura's opinion.

 

Though the dazed quality was lost as soon as the Egyptian grinned and flicked his tongue out to taste what traces of the boy he could still have. Yami had a divine essence that reminded him of Egypt, a heat cast in gold and summer sun he knew he could never tire of. “Actually, he was strangling me. But more importantly, that just sounded as though you were giving me permission to kiss him again.”

 

“…No! That's not what I meant!” Ready to argue his point, Bakura was quieted when his kiss-tipsy lover mewed for attention and tugged his chin so the pale man could look at the bottle Yami had spun while the two had been speaking. It was facing Bakura. Finally, someone he could kiss that he wouldn't mind! …And maybe he'd be able to pick up on what traces of Mariku were left on the boy's lips. “Thank Re. That's it, everyone go home, this was the last round. Snog me, baby.” Bakura grinned, cupping the younger's head and tugging him in for a kiss to make up for the night, and to release what pent up energies he had just acquired from watching the Egyptian pair.

 

“Ngh, Kura!”

 

Blinking at the fact the boy was fighting him off, Bakura looked hurt before the younger smiled and eased his mind by nuzzling against the crook of his neck, slipping the hated bottle caps into his pale hand.

 

“I can kiss you whenever I like, so won't you please toss the caps instead?”

 

Damn those fluttering lashes, and the fact he couldn't deny the boy anything when he used that pleading tone. Grunting in agreement, Bakura fingered the caps for a bit, eyes diverted to the boy's kiss swollen lips as Yami purred in thanks and watched, fingers crossed while he played with the pale man's long hair. The metallic caps landed with muffled clinks and dictated Bakura was to do anything his lover asked, and while normally he wouldn't have cared, there was something about Yami's gleeful, and dare he say devilish, grin that made the paler wish he had ended the game a turn sooner.

 

“Kura, koi.”

 

Damn it.

 

That pitch was back, and with Yami practically crawling into his sensitized lap with puppy dog eyes, Bakura -knew- he would be agreeing to whatever the hell it was the boy wanted, and from the sound of things, it was going to be something he normally would have sworn his life against.

 

“Promise me you'll do it…” Yami's mouth found its way to his lover's ear, arms wound around a pale neck while he straddled Bakura's lap. The whole set up was actually rather awkward since the boy feared his jeans would scoot too low and Bakura was afraid his arousal would be found out. And it was when the younger brushed his hips against the other, although Yami kept the grin hidden among white hair, embarrassed and proud that his display with Mariku had affected the paler to such an extent, because honestly, it had taken a toll on him too, but Yami had more will than he made apparent, having eased away the nice feeling in his pants on his own. “Please?” Feeling Bakura's breath shudder out the moment the boy had skimmed teeth over his ear, Yami knew that was as good of an agreement as he was going to get.

 

He should really use this seduction thing more often, maybe to trick Bakura into putting up new wallpaper! Ooh, he'd have to thank Yuugi for this powerful weapon later. “Thank you…” Small croon accompanied by a lick over the shell of Bakura's ear, Yami squirmed off his lover with an innocent smile as he waved him toward Mariku, who was having his own issues with his pants as well, not that anyone looked… much. “Kiss him.”

 

“…Wha'?” Bakura blinked, trying to get his lover back in his lap, but had his hands swatted away, wincing when Yami tugged on a white tendril and led him like a child on hands and knees toward the violet-eyed Egyptian, who now looked as though he had just won the lottery. “…No, wait… YamYam!”

 

“Come on, I think everyone has kissed everyone else. The only combination missing is you and him. It's only fair…” That sweet smile wasn't fooling him, but Bakura had already damned himself to this. He wanted to kiss the bastard, but he had been hoping to be more prepared, or at least the one in charge of the initiation. “Please?” More puppy eyes, but then Yami frowned and crossed his arms, chest puffing out as he tried to look as stern as possible, which only resulted in the younger resembling a grouchy kitten. “Or I'll never bake again!” Fighting a laugh and a look of horror, because one had to taste Yami's baked treats in order to truly appreciate how fuckably fantastic they were, Bakura consented with a groan; great, now even Mariku knew just how whipped he was, and all because he loved Yami -and his baking- enough to allow this.

 

Finally facing Mariku, who didn't even try to hide the smugness, Bakura realized there was a lump in his throat while his stomach was twisting in knots and feeling as though something warm and fuzzy was eating him from the inside out. Stupid apprehension. Unconsciously licking his lips, Bakura took a breath and tried to frown at the Egyptian to keep up the front that he -didn't- want this, though it faltered when Mariku graced him with one of those cocky smirks, which looked a hell of a lot sexier than annoying when up this close.

 

“…Am I allowed to strangle -you- with my tongue, Ba-Kura?” Watching the pale man blink in confusion as he was broken away from his thoughts, Mariku chuckled throatily and raised an elegant brow, satisfied when he could see a hint of a blush form on Bakura's pallid cheeks, from rage or embarrassment he wasn't sure, and didn't quite care. “I'll take that as a `yes'.” Leaving no time for the other to refute, Mariku captured the white-haired male's lips and did as he pleased.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

`Ay, que rico
Me pone loca
Como te mueve
Como me toca
Tu movimiento
Tu sentimiento
Si, yo te quiero
Te doy la noche
Toda la noche
Ay, vamos!'

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

The gasp that allowed him entrance into the pale man's mouth was laced with a protesting air Mariku didn't quite believe since -Bakura- was the one who pressed closer and wrapped -his- tongue around the one invading the paler's mouth, practically milking Mariku's tongue and guiding it toward his tonsils. What a fun game. The Egyptian kept his eyes open just a sliver so he could watch the way Bakura's mahogany eyes clouded over and fluttered closed, also managing to peer at Yami, who was beside them blushing at every portion of skin available, wide red eyes taking in the sight with fascination.

 

Were kisses supposed to be that messy?

 

Unable to find the power to blink, the boy merely sat there, watching as Mariku's tongue darted between fondling Bakura's uvula and coating every inch of the paler's mouth with his own spit. Yami thought it was fairly gross, really. But then again… his lover seemed to be enjoying it, which had to mean it was a lot more fun than it looked. Bakura seemed to read his mind because he chose that moment to make a noise he had never heard emanate from the pale man before. It was a breathless moan that sounded so needy, Yami nearly felt hurt that he had never managed to make Bakura sound like that. The boy figured out the reason for it quickly though once he saw the way his lover's fingers where trembling, and Yami felt a grin spread on his face even as he yanked Bakura away from Mariku a moment too soon, just the way the paler had done to him earlier, ignoring the nearly inaudible whine from both men.

 

His lover was reacting the same way he managed to always make Yami feel. Oddly enough, Yami had felt the same happen to the blond when he had made Mariku quiver weakly during their short kiss. So all put together this meant that Yami was to Mariku what Mariku was to Bakura what Bakura was to Yami! Brain aching a bit at such a tangled excuse for logic, the younger Egyptian smiled all the same and hugged one of his lover's arms to his chest while he stood them up and motioned the others to do the same, the game was over, after all. Both of them to be exact.

 

Such a wonderful night, not only had Bakura not gone mad when the boy had kissed the blond, but he had allowed himself to be kissed by the same blond in return, and was still swallowing and licking his lips even while dazedly saying good-bye to Yuugi, Jou, and Ryou, who looked overly pleased. They had remained wholly silent during this exchange, watching with held breaths, and cheering amongst themselves just as quietly when they saw firsthand that their combined efforts had paid off. Everyone had their own theory as to how the kisses would affect the three roommates, and while no one was optimistic enough to think the trio would now instantly be a couple, they at least knew it was a near future possibility if they were reading the cards right.

 

Then again.

 

When they left the freshly kissed males alone for the night, how were they to have known that within a month the three impending lovers would no longer even be in the same country as one another?...

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

`Give me just one night, just one night

Oh baby,
I'll give you the time of your life'

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~

 

-English Translation for Spanish stanza of song-

 

`Oh, how good
You make me crazy

How you move
How you touch me
Your movement
Your feeling
Yes, I love you
I'll give you the night
All night long
Let's go!'